Schuman Cheese Executive Named USDA Trade Advisor

(Fairfield, New Jersey) Ralph Hoffman, a member of the executive leadership team at Schuman Cheese, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods.

Hoffman, who is Executive Vice President of Risk Management and leads the Food Service and Food Ingredients Business Unit at Schuman Cheese, is among the private-sector appointees announced by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer earlier this summer. The Advisory Committee appointees will serve until June 2023.

“This appointment is a testament to Ralph’s expertise and knowledge of the cheese and dairy landscape,” said Neal Schuman, CEO. “It’s quite an accomplishment for Ralph personally, as well as a tangible demonstration of one of our core values, leadership, which promotes high standards and excellence throughout the cheese industry.”

The advisory committee system, which is jointly managed by the USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, was established by Congress in 1974 to capture expertise and input from entities with public- and private-sector commercial and economic interests in matters related to U.S. agricultural trade policy. Committee members lend technical advice and information about specific commodities and products affected by the administration of trade policy.

At Schuman Cheese, Hoffman’s background in supply chain, commodities purchasing and financial modeling of global economic indicators allows him to assist customers in timing their purchases to maintain cost consistency and visibility while managing against price fluctuations. Hoffman also serves on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and is on the executive committee of the Cheese Importers Association of America Board.

Hoffman is the second Schuman Cheese representative to lend expertise to the USDA’s ATAC. Previous appointees include Neal Schuman, who served four terms.