Demand for Real California Cheese and other dairy products made with Real California Milk is growing both in the U.S. and abroad. U.S. dairy exports to China were up 40 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, with more than 35 percent of U.S. dairy exports coming from California.

Overall U.S. cheese exports have steadily increased over the past decade, and earlier this year representatives from the CMAB embarked on an Asia pizza training mission to China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam to host trainings and receptions highlighting all the great uses of California specialty and pizza cheeses. Each reception was followed by a full day’s training for local pizza chefs and menu designers. The pizza trainings were led by international guest instructor, Mark Todd, also known as “The Cheese Dude.”

California exports more Mozzarella, which is the most common type of cheese used to make pizza, than any other state.  Future trade missions and trainings will open more doors for California milk in international markets.  Currently, the CMAB is embarking on a bakery program in Asia to introduce California butter to bakeries and chefs to enhance exports of butter that are currently in the marketplace.