The US is the world's largest single-country exporter of cheese. Since 2000, sales of US cheese to international customers have grown more than 688%.
What explains this growth? The first reason, production, may seem obvious, but it is a factor other countries can't match. The United States is the leading global producer of cheese, manufacturing more than 5 million tonnes in 2014. That's double the second-place country, Germany.
What else explains the global love affair with US cheese?
Angelique Hollister, USDEC vice-president, cheese and consumer products, offers six additional reasons global buyers are turning to the United States:
- The United States has the largest supply of cow's milk in the world
- Year-round milk production, which guarantees consistent product availability
- An abundance of land, providing an unrestrained capacity to grow as global demand increases
- Ongoing investments in research and technology, which leads to inventions like IQF, Individually Quick Frozen mozzarella, which locks in freshness and stops the aging process
- State-of-the-art production facilities regulated by high governmental sanitation and quality standards
- Great-tasting cheese, as evidenced by medals at the 2014 World Cheese Awards and the 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest, accounting for 67% of the total medal count
"Whether it is bulk or specialty, international buyers and end-users are increasingly looking to the US for their cheese supply needs," Hollister said. "Opportunities are plentiful for those who would like to expand their horizon."
For more information on US cheese visit the US Dairy Exporter Blog
