UNITY — Ted Quaday, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, has announced that he intends to retire on Aug. 31.

Quaday, 65, of Thorndike, recently informed MOFGA’s board and the association’s membership of his plans, saying he is thankful for the opportunity to work with MOFGA to grow the organic movement in Maine and beyond. Quaday accepted the executive director’s post in September 2013 following the death of longtime executive director Russell Libby in December 2012.

“MOFGA is a great organization with a positive mission to educate about and advocate for organic agriculture,” said Quaday. “It has been a real privilege to work with MOFGA’s 11,000 members to build on Russell Libby’s legacy of advocacy for organic food and farming.”

Quaday said he will be leaving MOFGA in a strong position and that the organization is well-positioned to continue the activism and positive growth demonstrated over the past four and a half years.

The Common Ground Country Fair is MOFGA’s signature event, each September bringing more than 60,000 attendees to the group’s fairgrounds in Unity.

MOFGA’s board has initiated a professionally guided national search process and is currently seeking input from its membership regarding challenges and opportunities the organization can expect to see over the next several years. A new executive could be selected as early as July.