ARLINGTON, VA - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 11 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America and Darigold to sell a total of 1,587 metric tons (3.499 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central America. The product will be delivered June through December. In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 19,561 metric tons (43.1 million pounds) to 20 countries on four 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 Press Release