Vilsack highlights reasons to be cheerful about future of US exports

At this year’s World Dairy Expo, the USDEC president and CEO cited new developments and marketing strategies to increase exports to North American neighbours as well as overseas markets, as reported on USDEC’s blog.

Despite the ongoing trade war with China, US Dairy Export Council President and CEO Tom Vilsack said US dairy farmers “have many reasons to be optimistic” about the long-term growth of US dairy exports – especially in high-demand markets such as the Middle East, Asia and Mexico.

“This will require patience. We have to play the strategic long game. But I am convinced now more than ever that we are competing to win, not just for today’s dairy farmers, but for the next generation,” Vilsack said.

• Exponential increase in exports
• Overcoming trade challenges in Mexico, China
• Investment in Southeast Asia

Vilsack highlighted other USDEC long-term investments in fast-growing markets where he said there are “outsized” opportunities for growth as reasons for optimism, including:

• Broadening partnerships within Mexico to further build demand for US Dairy to capitalise on USMCA, once ratified.
• Launches of US cheese in Mexico and China through Costco retail partnerships, as well as in Chile through focused retail engagement.
• The launch of the USA Cheese Guild, an internationally branded effort to facilitate education about and preference for US cheeses within culinary, foodservice, communications and retail channels.
• Halal food training for dairy exporters exploring growth in Islamic nations, such as Indonesia – a top 10 global dairy importer.
• USDEC is in Indonesia on a trade mission with the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture and a dozen US dairy ingredient exporters. Indonesia is working to expand its dairy supply chain amid trade difficulties with the EU.
• A pop-up US Dairy display to increase visibility and induce product trial across regions.
• Partnerships with fitness centers and cheese marketers in Japan. USDEC has a partnership with fitness chain Curves, which sells concentrated whey protein from the United States to customers at its 2,000 locations.
• USDEC Japanese cheese marketing partner Chesco is introducing high-end US cheeses in its own stores, as well as other Japanese grocery and department stores.

“At USDEC, we’re about planting the seeds of new ideas and approaches to grow export markets for a brighter future for the US dairy industry,” Vilsack concluded. “We are poised to compete to win and get to The Next 5%.”