Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted four requests for export assistance from Darigold, Dairy Farmers of America, and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell a total of 688 metric tons (1.517 million pounds) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia and North Africa. The product will be delivered June through September.

 

In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 15,177 metric tons (33.4 million pounds) to 19 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.

 

The Cooperatives Working Together (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.