As part of IDFA’s efforts to advocate for current and future free-trade agreements that would increase market access for U.S. dairy products, IDFA is working with the CEOs of several member companies to place pro-trade opinion pieces in national and regional news outlets.

Andrei Mikhalevsky, president and CEO of California Dairies, Inc., and Stan Ryan, president and CEO of Darigold, Inc., recently wrote “Trade agreements critical to Northwest's dairy industry," which appeared this month in the Yakima Herald-Republic in Washington state. They outlined the importance of international trade to the growth of the dairy foods business in the Pacific Northwest and its impact on the overall health of the U.S. economy.

“Expanded trade represents the most significant growth opportunity for dairy farmers and dairy product manufacturers,” they said, noting the economic impact of dairy production in Washington and Oregon. The article cites data from IDFA’s Dairy Delivers economic impact tool.

IDFA will continue to partner with member companies to place opinion pieces in other influential publications.

Members that want to partner or have questions may contact Peggy Armstrong, IDFA vice president of communications, at parmstrong@idfa.org.