Washington, D.C. – The National Grocers Association (NGA), the nation’s leading trade association for independent supermarket retailers and wholesale distributors, sent key recommendations to help address the current egg supply shortage in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“NGA members welcome Secretary Rollins’ leadership to address the ongoing historic pressure grocers and their customers are facing from record high egg prices and supply challenges. We look forward to working closely with the Secretary and the professionals at USDA to provide flexibility in the WIC program and to support science backed policies and solutions to address these ongoing concerns.” said NGA President & CEO Greg Ferrara.
In its letter, NGA urged the USDA to take the following actions:
Provide Retail Flexibility for WIC Stocking Requirements – Direct all state WIC agencies to approve waivers providing temporary flexibility in egg stocking requirements and price controls to accommodate supply shortages.
Protect Consumers and Stabilize the Egg Supply – Utilize all available scientific resources to mitigate the effects of the Avian Flu and enhance the resilience of the domestic egg supply.
“We appreciate the USDA’s efforts to support the food supply chain during these difficult times,” added Ferrara. “NGA is committed to working collaboratively with the Trump Administration and the industry to ensure independent grocers can continue serving their communities and meeting the needs of their customers.”
A full copy of the letter can be found here.
###
About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.
