The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

A Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) member cooperative captured 10 contracts to sell 1.254 million pounds (569 metric tons) of cream cheese with CWT assistance. Cream cheese was added to the list of dairy products eligible for export assistance April 1.

In addition, other members accepted 6 offers of export assistance from CWT that helped them capture sales contracts for 335,103 pounds (152 metric tons) of Cheddar and Gouda cheese, and 209,439 pounds (95 metric tons) of whole milk powder. These products, including the cream cheese, are going to customers in Asia, the Middle East and South America. The product will be delivered during the period from April through September 2019.

CWT-assisted member cooperative 2019 export sales now total 26.004 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 3.466 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat), 1.254 million pounds of cream cheese and 22.606 million pounds of whole milk powder to 22 countries in six regions. These sales are equal to 483 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers and all dairy cooperatives by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price. It does this by helping member cooperatives gain and maintain world market share for U.S dairy products. As a result, the program has significantly expanded the total demand for U.S. dairy products and the demand for U.S. farm milk that produces those products.

The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT pays export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by 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.