Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted a total of nine bids from members for assistance in selling cheese, butter and anhydrous milkfat to customers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The products will be delivered September through February 2010.

Dairy Farmers of America had two bids for assistance accepted to help export 3.0 million pounds of anhydrous milkfat and four bids for assistance on 525,000 pounds of cheese. Darigold had one bid accepted for 441,000 pounds of butter, Foremost one bid for 339,000 pounds of butter and CDI/Challenge one bid was accepted for 1.1 million pounds of butter.

Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program in March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 18,854 metric tons (41.6 million pounds) to 23 countries on four continents. In addition, sales of butter and anhydrous milkfat totaling 13,443 metric tons (29.6 million pounds) have been made to nine countries on three continents.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance Program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term and in the long-term by helping member cooperatives to gain and maintain market share thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products.

Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)