Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted one bid from Foremost Farms for 100 metric tons (220,463 pounds) of Cheddar cheese to the Africa. The product will be delivered in August 2010.
Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program on March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 17,095 metric tons (37.7 million pounds) to 22 countries on four continents. The change in the totals is due to a reduction in the amount of product for which CWT assistance was provided.
The Export Assistance program was reactivated when economic analysis indicated that sizeable Cheddar cheese inventories overhanging the market are hampering a recovery in producer milk prices. Assisting CWT members in exporting American-type cheeses provides the most immediate way to positively impact producer milk prices in both the short-term and the long-term.
CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)