While in Richland Center today, Ambassador Kirk toured two of Wisconsin’s dairy product producers, Foremost Farms USA and the Valley View Dairy Farm. Ambassador Kirk met employees at Foremost which makes mozarrella cheese and whey protein powder for domestic and international customers. The factory operates around the clock seven days per week.
During Ambassador Kirk's visit to the Valley View Dairy Farm, he participated in a roundtable with local farmers to discuss trade, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and the importance of exports from Wisconsin.
America’s dairy producers and processors have been working together for the past several years to expand opportunities abroad. This effort led to the peak sales of $3.8 billion in 2008 and exports totaling $2.3 billion last year, despite the global financial crisis and dwindling dairy prices. In 2009, exports of American goods totaled more than $1 trillion, and $16.7 billion of those exports came from Wisconsin. That makes Wisconsin the 18th highest exporter among the 50 states.
Ambassador Kirk and Wisconsin Governor Doyle
