The U.S. Government Will Buy 11 Million Pounds of Surplus Cheese

The U.S. has a major cheese problem: There is just too much of it. The cheese surplus in the States is at its highest level in three decades. Europe is exporting more and more of the delicious dairy product, and American dairy production is climbing to record highs, leaving a lot of cheese sitting around in the fridge.

But the government is coming to the rescue. On August 23, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will be buying 11 million pounds of surplus cheese, plunking down $20 million to help dairy farmers struggling to bring home the metaphorical bacon as the excess supply causes cheese prices to drop.

While the USDA hasn’t said exactly what kind of cheese the agency will be acquiring, it won’t be paying much. The total comes out to about $1.82 per pound of cheese, which is a pretty great bargain. The delicious dairy will go straight to U.S. food banks and charities that feed the hungry.

[h/t John Upton]

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