In 2024, Bongards’ Creameries attended Food Export – Midwest’s Focused Trade Mission to Mexico for Retail and Foodservice to gain brand awareness and meet with interested importers in Mexico. The company used their allocated MAP funds to cover their travel to Mexico City in July to learn more about the Mexican market from local experts and attend one-on-one meetings with Mexican food service importers. Due to these actions, the Chanhassen, Minnesota-based supplier, gained $100,000 in sales to Mexico. They project to complete over $1 million in sales in the next twelve months while gaining 6 new foreign buyer contacts and establishing 2 new distributorships. Scott Tomes, Bongards’ Chief Revenue Officer, remarked, “We are very pleased with Food Export and will continue to pursue more opportunities and programs.”
Bongards’ Creameries produces natural cheese, processed cheese, and whey. Bongards’ is a farmer-owned co-op formed in 1908 in southeastern Minnesota and is one of the largest global cheese suppliers. In addition to being a large producer of cheese and whey, Bongards’ Creameries are committed to sustainable practices, including utilizing renewable energy, recycling wastewater to irrigate crops, and being members of the Dairy Sustainability Framework, U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, and The Dairy Sustainability Alliance. By working with their farmers to engage in sustainable practices, the co-op is building a more resilient dairy industry for the future.
Bongards’ Creameries produces natural cheese, processed cheese, and whey. Bongards’ is a farmer-owned co-op formed in 1908 in southeastern Minnesota and is one of the largest global cheese suppliers. In addition to being a large producer of cheese and whey, Bongards’ Creameries are committed to sustainable practices, including utilizing renewable energy, recycling wastewater to irrigate crops, and being members of the Dairy Sustainability Framework, U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, and The Dairy Sustainability Alliance. By working with their farmers to engage in sustainable practices, the co-op is building a more resilient dairy industry for the future.
Bongards’ Creameries has participated in Food Export programs since 2003, participating in the Branded Program, Buyers Missions, Food Show PLUS! events, Focused Trade Missions, Online Product Catalog/Trade Leads, seminars, and webinars.
Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.
