THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS
May 2008
DAIRY CHECKOFF UPDATE View PDF
Producer-Funded Export Efforts Help Increase U.S. Cheese Sales to Japan
Dairy producers are helping meet unmet dairy demand of consumers in Japan and around the globe by building profitable markets for U.S. dairy products and ingredients through their checkoff investment in the U.S. Dairy Export Council® (USDEC).
In the last few years, Japanese customers have come to seek and appreciate the high-quality products offered by U.S. dairy producers. The United States had already gained a foothold in Japan’s retail market with cream cheese, and U.S. suppliers wanted to expand into other cheese markets. In 2007, the U.S. dairy industry made great strides in doing so with the help of USDEC’s marketing efforts that emphasized high-value artisan cheeses and American originals.
With the assistance of USDEC staff, Japanese importers introduced approximately 20 U.S. specialty cheeses last year. USDEC encouraged the introduction of these new cheeses by:
- Conducting one-on-one consultations with retailers and hotels, and hosting seminars in Tokyo and Osaka
- Participating in an annual consumer event celebrating "Cheese Day"
- Sponsoring cheese and wine tastings for culinary professionals
- Working to convince distributors to use the USA seal of origin, which features the USDEC logo and the claim: "safe and good American cheese"
In 2007, U.S. cheese shipments to Japan rose 30 percent to 10,061 tons.
“We know that exports are a profitable market and help the U.S. dairy industry grow,” said Paul Rovey, an Arizona dairy producer and chairman of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy producer checkoff program. “By discovering consumer needs around the globe and working to meet those needs, our investment in USDEC provides long-term value for U.S. dairy producers.”
For more information about dairy checkoff-funded programs, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.
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