Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted nine requests for export assistance from Bongards Creamery, Dairy Farmers of America, and Foremost Farms to sell a total of 826 metric tons (2.152 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through October.
In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 11,900 metric tons (26.3 million pounds) to 17 countries on three continents.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by reducing inventories that overhang the market and depress cheese prices. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products.
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)