ARLINGTON, VA - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted four requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America and Darigold to sell a total of 614 metric tons (1,354 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia and Europe. The product will be delivered July through September.
In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 20,282 metric tons (44.7 million pounds) to 20 countries on four continents. An adjustment was made due to a cancellation of 560 metric tons to the Middle East.
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.
The CWT Export Assistance program is funded by voluntary contributions from dairy cooperatives and individual dairy farmers. The money raised by their investment is being used to strengthen and stabilize the dairy farmers’ milk prices and margins. For more information about CWT, visit www.cwt.coop.
