Wisconsin cheese isn’t just a U.S. favorite anymore. It’s winning fans around the world. In just three years, the state has gone from nine cheesemakers exporting internationally to more than 30. In 2025, Wisconsin’s dairy checkoff helped expand the state’s cheese presence to over 50 countries.
On this month’s Check In With Dairy Checkoff, Waterloo dairy farmer and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board Member Mark Crave says this global growth comes through high-impact trade shows, retail partnerships, and international buyer missions. He says these strategies connect Wisconsin cheesemakers with importers from Asia, the Middle East, Mexico, and Australia, to name a few.
Exports are more than a sales boost, Crave notes. It’s key to the long-term stability of Wisconsin’s dairy industry. With the U.S. making up only 4 percent of the world’s population, tapping into global markets ensures consistent demand for Wisconsin milk and cheese.
This year, buyer delegations from Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Morocco visited Wisconsin to meet cheesemakers and see firsthand what makes the state’s dairy products world-class.
Wisconsin’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. The state’s dairy checkoff earned the Governor’s Export Achievement Award in 2023. Crave says it’s the first time a non-profit received the honor, cementing Wisconsin’s reputation as the global gold standard for cheese.
