• FSS Pre-Summit

• Protein PACT launched

• USDEC 2022 draft Business Plan

• Register now: SEA healthy aging webinar

• Gulfood Manufacturing show in November

• Ingredients workshop series in Mexico

• Market Summary: Chinese buying strong in June

• Huttema testifies on USMCA enforcement

• USDEC backs McCain nomination

• Letter supports WTO reform

• Comments on GCC cheese regs

• U.S. cheese promos in Japan

• COVID Update: uneven, fragile recovery

• Exporter of the Year nominations

• Dairy at the Olympics

Science, innovation and international trade to define future of the global food system
This week’s UN Food Systems Summit (FSS) Pre-Summit Ministerial Meeting in Rome generated dialogue on a multitude of ideas, proposals and perspectives, some of which were neither evidence-based nor practical. Overall, however, there was strong support for a process that raises the bar on sustainability ambitions—an area where U.S. dairy producers and processors are well positioned to excel.

In a joint news release after the Pre-Summit, USDEC and NMPF welcomed the pursuit of work toward ensuring that agricultural innovation, science-based policies and sustainably produced foods of all kinds remain at the center of healthy and sustainable food systems. Pro-international trade statements by member states’ governments, which define the UN Agenda, were also a welcome interjection and underscored the critical role and commercial opportunities for sustainable U.S. dairy exports in the future of the global food system.

Highlighting dairy sustainability
Earlier in the FSS process, USDEC worked closely with NMPF and DMI to submit two industrywide U.S. dairy initiatives—the Net Zero Initiative and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program—as game-changing solutions. USDEC’s continued to point to these programs, as well as other sustainability initiatives undertaken by the U.S. dairy industry, to help illustrate the leading role U.S. dairy farmers and processors are playing in building increasingly sustainable food systems.

These efforts bore fruit when USDEC was tapped by the World Farmers Organization (WFO) to provide a dairy voice for their well-attended side event on sustainable livestock. Joining that session, DMI Chairwoman Marilyn Hershey provided an overview of the U.S. dairy environmental stewardship goals and explained how she had implemented the FARM Program and other technologies on her farm help meet those ambitious commitments.

Bronaugh leads strong U.S. response
Also notable was strong U.S. leadership throughout the Pre-Summit. USDEC, in collaboration with NMPF, has been engaging with the U.S. government to support the development of positions that would advance our sector’s goals for continued science and innovation-based sustainability gains.

The U.S. delegation was led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jewel Bronaugh, illustrating the high level of importance the administration has placed on helping drive a more pragmatic and positive narrative on the food systems and sustainability topics. This was an important sign to the world that the U.S. government, like the U.S. dairy industry, is a leader in moving to more sustainable food systems.

In her official remarks on behalf of the U.S., Deputy Secretary Bronaugh noted, “To make real and lasting improvements to our agriculture and food systems we must come together in support of science-based, data driven decision-making and innovative solutions. We must optimize producer-led solutions and be open to the next big ideas.”

She went on to underscore that “we must also continue to promote free markets and trade, recognizing that well-functioning markets at the local, regional and international levels bolster food security and sustainable food systems.”

More work ahead
These themes aligned strongly with the key messages USDEC has been working to tout throughout the FSS process.

“It has never been more important for the world to adopt solutions like those implemented by U.S. dairy farmers and processors that leave a positive environmental footprint, nourishing people and the planet today and for future generations,” USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden said in the joint USDEC/NMPF press release.

The Food Systems Summit and the recommendations that eventually derive from it are a long-term issue. The FSS is slated for September in New York, and sustainable food systems and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will remain a topic there and elsewhere well into the future. Multiple speakers at the Pre-Summit referenced that upcoming UN and other international meetings will build upon themes from the Summit.

USDEC, working together with NMPF and DMI, will continue to engage actively in the FSS process and contribute to efforts to accelerate achievement of global sustainable development goals.

Protein PACT launched
Dairy Management Inc. and 11 other associations representing farmers and companies responsible for the vast majority of America’s dairy, meat and poultry, as well as animal feed and ingredients, launched the Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow. The organization aims to “accelerate momentum and verify progress toward global sustainable development goals across all animal protein sectors.”

“Through the Protein PACT, we will ensure sustainable meat, poultry and dairy are part of solutions for healthy diets and a healthy future,” the group’s website reads.

Draft USDEC 2022 Business Plan now available for review
You should have received an email this week announcing that the draft 2022 USDEC Business Plan is now available for download. If not, you can access that plan here. (You will need a usdec.org username and password to download it.)

You will notice some differences about this year’s plan: The plan, like the organization, is evolving, starting with a revamped mission statement: “As the leading U.S. dairy export success accelerator, USDEC enriches the well-being of people, communities and the planet.”

While the plan still includes our assumptions and portfolio and situation analyses, we’ve regrouped activities under three intertwined strategic areas of focus:

• Enhance the U.S. dairy industry’s motivation and ability to compete and win in export markets.
• Drive demand, elevate preference and build confidence in U.S. dairy.
• Solidify USDEC’s leadership as the premier advocate and go-to resource on U.S. dairy exports.

Webinar coming up
We have scheduled a member webinar for Sept. 10 from 12:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m. ET to review the plan. Please read it and jot down any questions or comments you might have in preparation for the the virtual meeting. Register for that webinar here.

For faster delivery and reduced costs, the plan is available online only. If you need assistance accessing the plan, please contact Weston Abels at wabels@usdec.org.

Healthy aging webinar targeting Southeast Asia set for Aug. 19
If you have Southeast Asian customers marketing or interested in developing products positioned for healthy aging, they won’t want to miss USDEC’s upcoming webinar, “Unlocking Healthy Aging Opportunities with U.S. Dairy Proteins.” The event—the second installment in USDEC’s Southeast Asia Ideation and Innovation webinar series—aims to demonstrate that healthy aging products made with U.S. whey and milk proteins are not just for seniors but also for any adults interested in taking actions to improve their health now and into the future.

Nutrition and food innovation experts will share application ideas tailored to local tastes:

• Registered dietitian Pauline Chan, director of Singapore-based Food and Nutrition Consultants, will introduce newly developed U.S. dairy protein products and menu ideas that can be seamlessly integrated into the dietary habits and preferences of Southeast Asian consumers of all adult life stages.
  
  
• Martin Teo, technical director-food applications at USDEC’s Southeast Asia office, will showcase Southeast Asia-friendly product prototypes and the opportunities they present for food and beverage manufacturers, foodservice operators and home cooks. His talk will feature a kitchen demo from the U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence in Singapore.

Please share this registration link for the webinar with your customers. The event takes place Aug. 19 from 3:00-4:15 p.m. Singapore time. While that is the middle of the night U.S. time, we still encourage USDEC members to register as well. We are recording the webinar and everyone who registers will receive a link to the archived version about 24 hours after the event, so it can be watched at your convenience. For more information, contact Allison Guzman at aguzman@usdec.org.

In-person Gulfood Manufacturing show slated for November
Gulfood Manufacturing is a regional and ingredient-focused food trade event dedicated to the Middle East food and beverage processing sector. Many consider it a must-attend innovation platform and networking opportunity for the Middle East region.

The show provides attendees with insights into the latest trends related to ingredients, manufacturing processes, food processing, automation, packaging and supply chain solutions.

This year’s show—which is planned to be in-person—runs from Nov. 7-9 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. USDEC will have a small booth at the event to enhance U.S. dairy’s visibility and showcase our industry’s commitment to partnerships, growth, innovation and sustainability. It will also offer the opportunity to reconnect with regional food and beverage processors, importers and buyers after a long physical absence from the market due to COVID 19 and related travel restrictions.

While our booth will not include member exhibits, we will have space to host meetings between non-exhibiting USDEC members and Middle Eastern dairy buyers.

If you are interested in attending and want to learn about how USDEC can help maximize your experience, please reach out to Allison Guzman at aguzman@usdec.org and we can accommodate accordingly. Also, check the Gulfood Manufacturing website.

Mexico workshop series logs 11 more sessions for nearly 250 attendees
USDEC held 11 more in-person workshops in three cities in Mexico as part of this year’s ongoing dairy ingredient training series. The series seeks to educate food manufacturers on the benefits of using U.S. dairy ingredients in new and existing products. The latest sessions, like the seven other workshops held earlier this year, focused on dairy ingredients in fresh and semi-hard cheeses unique to Mexico, such as queso panela, queso Oaxaca and queso blanco.

A total of 247 representatives from medium-size cheese and dairy product manufacturers attended the latest sessions, pushing the total number of trainees this year to 404 (with at least nine workshops still remaining). Classes were held in three cities: Córdoba (Colegio de Post-Graduados de Córdoba), Santiago de Queretaro (Tec de Monterrey) and Guadalajara (Cámara de Comercio Innovation Center). The Guadalajara sessions were added due to popular demand by companies who could not get into the first round of Guadalajara workshops.

Full curriculum
Rodrigo Fernandez of the USDEC Mexico office moderated the workshops and presented the U.S. dairy story. Well-known industry and technical experts Jaime Campos, consultant to the Mexican dairy industry, Ruben Zarraga, professor and head of food science and dairy technical expert at Tec de Monterrey – Queretaro campus, and Marco Delgado, general director of INCALEC, led classroom and hands-on pilot plant sessions using U.S. dairy ingredients to make the various cheeses.

Attendees received ample reference materials to take back to their companies, including USDEC’s U.S. Cheese, U.S. Milk Powder and U.S. Whey Reference Manuals and a list of regional domestic distributors of U.S. dairy ingredients.

High satisfaction, but more info wanted
Ninety-two-percent of attendees rated the workshops as “excellent,” with many saying they wanted to learn more about U.S. dairy ingredient use in additional products, including yogurt, ice cream and dairy desserts. Specifically, they expressed interest in milk powder functionality, rehydration, product texture, enhancing creamy flavor and the cost benefits of incorporating dairy ingredients (nonfat dry milk in particular).

Additional workshops are scheduled for August and September in Mexico as well as the Dominican Republic, including sessions that will delve into U.S. dairy ingredient use in bakery applications. For questions, please contact Terri Rexroat at trexroat@usdec.org.

China webinar generates interest in U.S. permeate
More than 380 Chinese food and beverage makers participated live or listened to the archived version of USDEC’s June 24 webinar, “Dairy Permeate Creates Innovative Opportunities for the Food and Beverage Industry.”

The webinar, run in conjunction with the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology,” is another in a series of USDEC permeate activities that looks to educate Chinese food and beverage manufacturers on milk and whey permeate benefits, functionality and applications to encourage trial and build U.S. permeate exports. It immediately generated 10 inquiries for samples from end-users in China’s chocolate, bakery and beverage sectors.

Sodium-reduction opportunity
One way USDEC aims to expand demand is by connecting to specific needs of Chinese consumers and new product developers. For example, one of the webinar speakers, Dr. Zhihong Wang from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, outlined the Chinese government health goal of reducing sodium consumption. Permeate aligns perfectly with that goal.

Dr. Peng Zhou from USDEC partner Jiangnan University connected the dots, showing how versatile U.S. dairy permeate fits China-friendly food applications, including millet crust, laver soup and savory toppings for rice crackers.

Addressing concerns
Because dairy permeate was just approved last year for human food use through an atypical administrative process, many are unfamiliar with how this standard came to be. Actually, it is the first use of the process established by the Food Safety Law in 2017. Plus, the standard doesn't have a regular standard GB number.

This has created confusion and concern among trade. Thus USDEC invited Hanyang Lyu from the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) to explain those regulatory issues relating to this standard including labeling requirements. CFSA was intimately involved in drafting the standard, working closely with USDEC and others during the preapproval process.

Three USDEC members also participated in the webinar. Attendees gave high marks to the webinar, noting it was informative and helpful for their product development work. The archived Chinese language version of the webinar is available here. The version with simultaneous English translation can be viewed here. For more information, please contact Annie Bienvenue at abienvenue@usdec.org.

Chinese buying continued strong in June
China imported (from all suppliers) 198,230 MT of dairy products in June (+28% vs. the previous year), an all-time high for the month. Monthly dairy import records have been common this year for China, typically with nearly across-the-board gains in all product categories. June, however, was a bit of a different story in one of the main dairy imports drivers: whey.

In June, after 15 straight months of high double-digit year-over-year gains, Chinese whey imports fell 3%. At 55,120 MT, it was the lowest monthly whey import volume in more than a year—since May 2020. Part of that was due to a decline in WPC80+ shipments, but dry whey and lower protein WPC fell 1% as well. China’s pork glut (a situation sources suggest is short-term) is a likely factor behind reduced June volumes.

Through the first six months of 2021, Chinese whey imports were up 42% to 416,271 MT.

Powder, cheese strong
Chinese milk powder demand continues to soar despite sizable domestic inventories in both SMP and WMP. Chinese SMP imports jumped 47% year-over-year in June (+47% YTD); WMP imports soared 84% (+29% YTD).

Chinese cheese imports rose 18% in June, vs. the previous year. Through the first six months, cheese buying was up 57%. Annual Chinese cheese imports have risen for 15 straight years, but this year’s growth is on a different level as consumers become increasingly accustomed to cheese tastes and uses. The first six months of 2021 have put the nation on track to become the No. 3 importer in the world this year—after being No. 7 in 2020. If trends hold, it would be an unheard of rise in a single year.

NZ exports suggest potential China slowdown
NZ June dairy exports to China, usually a precursor to Chinese July imports, suggest Chinese torrid purchasing might be easing a bit. New Zealand WMP shipments to China rose less than 4% in June (compared to the previous year) while SMP exports fell 28%.

However, New Zealand cheese (+19% vs. 2020) and butterfat (+57%) exports to China remained strong in June.

Overall, New Zealand dairy exports to all locations posted a record second quarter, in large part due to China’s voracious appetite.

New Zealand milk cap
The belief that New Zealand is at or around peak milk was reinforced by recent NZX forecasts. NZX forecasts New Zealand milk output could fall 5% (in milk solids volume) from 2020/21 to 2030. At the same time, a shift in product mix to a greater percentage of higher value items will help drive a 16% gain in export value, NZX said. The group admitted though, that there were a lot of “what ifs” involved in those projections.

Download USDEC pricing app
Price trends are always at your fingertips. All you need to do is download the USDEC Commodity Prices Finder app, a mobile resource for tracking a variety of USDA dairy commodity prices. It is available at the Apple Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android.

If line is trending up, currency is strengthening vs. U.S. dollar (U.S. dollar is weakening). This is favorable for U.S. competitiveness. If line is trending down, currency is weakening vs. U.S. dollar (U.S. dollar is strengthening). This is unfavorable for U.S. competitiveness. Currency exchange rates are calculated for Wednesday of each week. Source: Oanda.com.

Darigold’s Huttema testifies on USMCA during 1 year review hearing
Chair of the Darigold and Northwest Dairy Association boards Allan Huttema told the U.S. Senate Finance Committee that monitoring and enforcement of the USMCA is essential for U.S. dairy farmers to reap the full benefits of the deal in a Tuesday hearing on the trade deal. USDEC worked closely with Huttema and Darigold staff to support development of his testimony and preparations for the hearing such as outreach to key Senate offices to help ensure dairy trade was prominently addressed during hearing questioning.

In written testimony submitted in advance of his oral remarks on July 27, Huttema specifically called out issues with Canada (tariff-rate quotas, commitments on its Class 7 pricing scheme and increased Canadian dairy protein exports that appear to be circumventing export caps) and Mexico (a “proliferation of ill-intended regulations that are aimed at disrupting trade” as well as implementation of USMCA geographical indications provisions).

Huttema also commented more broadly about the need for vigilant trade agreement enforcement and for building on USMCA in key markets, like the UK, Southeast Asia, Japan and China. Proper enforcement of trade agreements is essential “to ensure we retain the ability to supply high-quality cheeses, milk powders and a variety of other dairy products to customers around the world.”

“USMCA was an important step forward, but it’s not enough,” said USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden in a joint USDEC/NMPF press release on the testimony. “We need new trade agreements to expand on Congress’ hard work in passing USMCA. The EU is filling the vacuum that American trade policy is leaving—an issue that Congress needs to address with additional market opportunities for U.S. exports.”

For more on the testimony, including a video clip, read the U.S. Dairy Exporter Blog story, “Idaho dairy farmer tells congressional committee that U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement needs enforcement.”

USDEC backs McCain nomination as U.S. representative for UN food agencies
USDEC and NMPF sent a joint letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez and Ranking Member James Risch supporting the nomination of Cindy McCain as U.S. Representative to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

McCain’s nomination comes at a critical time, with the UN Food Systems Summit slated to meet in September to set recommendations aimed at transforming world food systems (as part of an effort to accelerate progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goals) and the FAO’s Committee on World Food Security set to meet in Rome in October to endorse policy recommendations and guidance on a range of food security and nutrition topics.

“It is vital the U.S. Ambassador be involved to ensure decisions are science-based and do not introduce unreasonable impediments to trade,” the letter states. Furthermore, as the global conversation on sustainable food production ramps up, “it is critical that the U.S. has a strong voice in international fora to amplify the role that the U.S. dairy and agricultural industry is playing in advancing global sustainability efforts. We believe Cindy McCain is the right person to fill that responsibility.”

Letter supports U.S. leadership in WTO reform, revitalization
Thirty-four U.S. ag groups, including USDEC and NMPF, signed a letter to USTR Katherine Tai and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing strong support for U.S. leadership in reforming and revitalizing the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Well-defined trade rules and well-functioning international institutions (especially the WTO) greatly enhance the benefits of trade to U.S. agriculture, the letter states. In recent years, however, flaws in the WTO system have become apparent, heightening the need for reform, including changes that lead to a market-liberalizing agenda for agriculture and a better functioning institution overall.

A two-page attachment to the letter outlines agricultural priorities for WTO reform and provides suggestions for the 12^th WTO Ministerial Conference, which takes place Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2021. The principles outlined in the letter are those that USDEC worked closely with a small set of other leading U.S. agricultural organizations to craft.

USDEC submits comments on draft GCC cheese regulations
As part of our ongoing review of draft legislation sent to the WTO for public feedback, USDEC submitted comments on proposed cheese regulations from the GCC. The comments cover seven draft varietal cheese technical regulations—mozzarella, edam, gouda, brie, camembert, havarti and cheddar—all of which are updated versions of existing GCC technical regulations for these cheeses.

The overall compositional requirements and ingredient allowances of these proposed regulations mostly align with the corresponding Codex standards, but there were several potentially concerning new requirements that USDEC noted.

Annatto
For example, USDEC requested that annatto continue to be recognized as a permitted additive in all these varieties except mozzarella to align with Codex.

All of the draft cheese regulations refer to the GCC additives regulation for approved additives and neither the current nor proposed replacement GCC additives regulation lists annatto as approved for cheese. (USDEC had pointed out this omission when the GCC additives regulation was up for comment in 2019, but the final version of the revised additives regulation is not yet available, so we do not know whether it includes annatto.)

Salt and shelf-life
USDEC also raised concerns with the reference to a maximum salt regulation, given that Saudi Arabia’s maximum salt regulation is voluntary and we are unaware of a comparable regulation at the GCC level that restricts salt in foods. Finally, USDEC challenged the inclusion of strict shelf-life requirements. Please contact Sandra Benson at sbenson@usdec.org with any questions.

New U.S. cheese promo with Wendy’s kicks off in Japan; more to follow
U.S. cheese is getting strong exposure in Japan over the next three months with a series of menu promotions developed through USDEC engagement with foodservice operators. The first has already launched: Wendy’s rolled out two new sandwiches—the Jalapeno Popper Burger and the Jalapeno Popper Chicken—featuring a spicy jalapeno cheese sauce using U.S. Pepper Jack cheese.

This is the first time the chain has used U.S. Pepper Jack cheese. The promotion will run for two months (July 15-Sept. 15) in all of Wendy's 53 outlets nationwide. Wendy’s will use the “Made with Cheese From USA” seal on all their promotional materials and social media outreach during the promotion. Social media efforts also include a U.S. cheese give-away tie-in campaign, where a select number of people who “like” the Wendy’s Jalapeno Popper posts on Instagram/Twitter receive a gift package of U.S. cheese. (Wendy’s has more than 100,000 followers on the two platforms.)

More to come
A gourmet burger promotion is slated to run for a month beginning Aug. 27 at 30 well-known upscale hamburger outlets in Japan. The restaurants will launch new burger creations using U.S. cheese (primarily Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack and Colby Jack). USDEC is collaborating with Kakaku.com (Tabelog), one of the most well-known restaurant website platforms in Japan, to publicize the promotion, maximizing the impact and scope of the promotion across the country.

The promos are part of USDEC’s ongoing work with foodservice operations in Japan and elsewhere to incorporate U.S. cheese in their menus and generate trial and long-term demand.

Economic recovery increasingly uneven
The latest economic forecasts from the International Monetary Fund point to a widening gap in the global recovery, increasingly influenced by vaccination rates and a nation’s capacity to implement economic support packages. It’s a situation that favors advanced economies.

The IMF increased 2021 growth forecasts for advanced economies by 0.5%, based on stronger vaccine and aid programs, and lowered its forecast for emerging and developing countries by 0.4%. Together, that leaves the IMF’s overall global growth forecast for 2021 unchanged at +6% for the year.

At the same time, the IMF qualified its forecast noting that highly infectious variants “could derail the recovery.” The Delta variant continues to surge around the world, in both advanced and emerging economies.

Governments have tightened lockdowns in many major global metropolitan areas, including Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo and the national capital region in the Philippines. In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City implemented a 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. curfew for all people, requiring them to remain indoors except in cases of emergency. Other major Vietnamese population centers also tightened restrictions, often halting all foodservice takeaway altogether.

New Zealand and Australia suspended their travel bubble, while other nations implemented new travel bans against countries with high infection rates.

Other news from USDEC’s overseas office network includes:

China

• China’s foodservice revenue has largely recovered, although growth on pre-pandemic levels remains elusive. Sales for the first half of 2021 were US$335 billion, about equal to the first half of 2019 and a 49% increase from January-June 2020. For the month of June 2021, Chinese foodservice revenue was US$61 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20.2%.

Mexico

• Heeding ongoing calls for assistance from dairy farmers, the government is expected to lift milk prices paid to producers supplying the Liconsa social program (which represents around 6% of total milk production). The expected 12% increase would lift prices from about $8.20 pesos per liter to $9.20 pesos per liter. (In U.S. terms, that would be equivalent from US$18.45/CWT to US$20.07/CWT.
  
  
• The Mexican Restaurant Association says that one in five restaurants in Mexico closed due to the nation’s dual health and economic crises. With the latest wave of infections (and some states returning to more restrictive rules for hours of operation and capacity), the group does not see a full recovery of the sector until the summer of 2022.

Middle East/North Africa

• Some dairy plants are preparing for the back-to-school season with launches of new white cheese products considered as healthy for school lunches. Cheese production is expected to increase demand for SMP.
  
  
• “Healthy” snacking is surging in the MENA regions, as consumers aim to avoid “covibesity.” Better-for-you ice creams, protein bars and other snacks billed as more nutritious are showing positive growth across the Middle East.

Southeast Asia

• The Indonesian government is extending support programs to bolster families and businesses suffering from the pandemic. The country earmarked nearly US$6 billion for three social programs, although more than half of the money is slated to run out at the end of August.
  
  
• Singapore is looking to relax its border rules in September when it expects 80% of its population will be fully vaccinated. Currently, about 55% of the nation is fully vaccinated; 75% have received their first jab. Singapore is far ahead of all other Southeast Asian nations in vaccinations—Malaysia is in second in the region with 19% of the population fully vaccinated. (USDEC offices in China, Japan, Mexico, Middle East/North Africa, South America, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Vietnam; International Monetary Fund; Wall Street Journal, 7/25/21, 7/23/21; Washington Post, 7/23/21)

 

 

Nominations deadline approaching for Tom Camerlo Exporter of Year Award
Dairy Foods magazine is seeking nominees for the 2021 Tom Camerlo Exporter of the Year Award. Every year, the award recognizes a U.S. dairy company that exhibits exceptional leadership and commitment to the international market.

The criteria for selection include an active role in driving global dairy demand, industry leadership in advancing U.S. dairy exports, a commitment to export market development and export sales success. To be Exporter of the Year, international trade must play an integral role in a company’s overall growth strategy.

To nominate your company or another USDEC member as the 2021 “Tom Camerlo Exporter of the Year,” visit Dairy Foods’ confidential online nomination page. The nomination deadline is Aug. 16.

USDEC sponsors the award, which is named for former Chairman Tom Camerlo. The winner will be featured in the November issue of Dairy Foods and receive the award at the fall USDEC membership meeting. To read about last year’s winner, Proliant, as well as other previous recipients, click here.

Dairy farmer to run 1500m
Dairy got a plug this week during the Olympics broadcast when commentators revealed that U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky’s post-workout routine regularly included lowfat chocolate milk. Dairy is sure to take an even higher profile this weekend when Vermont track-and-field athlete/dairy farmer Elle Purrier St. Pierre represents the U.S. in the women’s 1500m run. Tune in Sunday, Aug. 1, at 8:35 p.m. ET for the first heat. The semifinal takes place on Aug. 4 at 6:00 a.m. ET, with the final on Aug. 6 at 8:50 a.m. ET. USDEC will be rooting her. For more on Purrier’s dairy roots, read, “A Vermont Runner Takes Her Show on the Road” (may require subscription) and watch the video in this tweet. Also, check out this good luck video from Cabot Creamery Co-operative.

 

 

• In congressional testimony, Idaho dairy farmer emphasizes the importance of trade
• Dairy farmer and Olympic runner Elle Purrier hasn’t forgotten her roots
• Dairy products play an important role in Olympics – and in host country Japan (retweet)
• The world of protein snacks is ever-expanding (retweet)
• School milk programs are a vital source of childhood nutrition (retweet)