What product would allow a milk producer to receive the maximal price for milk under a federal milk marketing order?

The product that allows a milk producer to receive the maximal price for milk under a federal milk marketing order is mozzarella cheese. This is primarily because mozzarella cheese is the most widely consumed cheese variety in the United States, particularly in pizza and various culinary applications, leading to high market demand.

Federal milk marketing orders establish minimum prices that processors must pay for milk based on the end products made from it. Since mozzarella has significant consumption and is a staple ingredient in various popular food items, it is categorized in such a way that its production yields higher prices for the milk used. This is contrasted with other dairy products like cheddar cheese, which, while also a staple, may not yield as high a return per gallon of milk processed under the current pricing system as mozzarella due to varying factors such as market trends and consumer preferences.

In the case of sour cream, ice cream, and even cheddar, while these products have their places in the market, they do not drive the same price premiums that mozzarella does within the context of federal milk marketing pricing mechanisms. Thus, mozzarella cheese stands out as the product that maximizes the price received by milk producers.