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Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 12 requests for export assistance from Darigold, Dairy Farmers of America and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell a total of 3,076 metric tons (6.781 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The product will be delivered October 2011 through March 2012.

In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 32,785 metric tons (72.3 million pounds) to 20 countries on four continents. That is the equivalent of 723 million pounds of milk, the annual production of 34,400 cows. Sales totaling 444 metric tons were cancelled in September.

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.

09.26.2011