Arkansas farmers are no stranger to soybeans, which is the #1 US agricultural export. Arkansas ranks 9th in the US in soybean production, having produced 140 million bushels in 2013, valued at $2 billion dollars. Soybeans have been good to Arkansas for almost 50 years now, and along with rice, have become the most popular crops grown in the Natural State. Recently, however, there have been questions raised by concerned people and organizations around the world about the safety of the soybean for consumption. It’s now no secret that mass production of soybeans led to the rise in use of genetically modified (GMO) seeds by farmers, a move which has concerned health experts and sent consumers looking elsewhere for more natural options.
Raymond Chung’s family has been involved in the food business for over 30 years. In 2011, the Chung’s decided they would expand their operation into the United States, and began searching for a product and a location. The product, they decided, would be Edamame, a thick and healthy soybean that had been a food staple in China and Japan for generations. The location the Chung family settled on, however, came as a surprise to their peers: Mulberry, Arkansas.
Edamame, which literally translates to “stem bean” in Japanese, is widely considered to be a “superfood” by many health experts. It can be served steamed and hot as an appetizer (a common style in Japanese or Chinese restaurants), cold and in a salad, or as a healthy snack. The soybean is considered to be the only food that contains all nine essential amino acids that the human body does not make itself, and has become one of the most sought after healthy foods in today’s modern food environment. Traditionally, Edamame was only grown in East Asia and imported to the US. That was the case until Ray Chung got to Mulberry, Arkansas in 2011.
“What we’re trying to do is change that around, so that when you think of Edamame, you think of Arkansas, just like Idaho potatoes or Washington apples.” Said Chung in an interview earlier this year with CBS news. While that may have sounded crazy at first, the results from the first few crops are in, and Arkansas Edamame seems to be a popular item. The beans grown in Mulberry are bigger and sweeter, according to Chung. And the farming community is happy with their yields as well. “It was a good year.” Said Michael Chaney, field manager for American Vegetable and Edamame, inc. “The farmers we worked with in the first year are wanting to increase acreage, and we’re also seeing some trends where some of their neighbors are becoming interested as well.”
The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville took notice of the Edamame being grown in Mulberry, and has gotten involved to try and breed an Arkansas variety of the soybean named “UA Kirksey” after Joe Kirksey of Mulberry, who was a longtime leader in the soybean field. One grower, whose farm is located outside Paris on the Arkansas River, said he grew 40 acres of Edamame in 2012 and planned on growing 10 times that in 2013. Edamame could end up breathing new life into the state of Arkansas, but not just for the farmers who grow it.
Ray Chung opened the doors to the Edamame processing facility in Mulberry in 2012, and the town has been reaping the benefits ever since. In a town of less than 1500 people, the Edamame processing facility already employs around 100 people, and is looking to expand as farmers continue to expand their acreage. “It has changed the town for the better,” Said Mulberry mayor Gary Baxter. “When you’ve got a company that’s just bringing in jobs and then expanding to bring in more jobs – we’re just happy it’s here in Mulberry.” By the end 2014, the plant hopes to add a second processing line as more and more farmers jump aboard the Edamame bandwagon, which some experts say could be the smart move.
There has been a fast moving rise in attention paid to where food comes from, and what is in it. One of the huge buzzwords inside the growing movement is GMO free. Consumers who want a GMO free diet have created a rapidly growing market for non-GM soybeans and other food items. This is the market that Chung, the famers, and the facility workers are hoping to corner, and they are on the right track. Not only does Chung get to stick a “Made in America” sticker on every bag of Edamame, he has now signed contracts with CostCo, Sam’s Club, and Whole Foods. Getting Arkansas Edamame into major American grocery store chains is a huge step for everyone in Mulberry. “I think as Americans become more aware of where our food is coming from, they really want it made in the USA,” Chung said to the AP. The next step is to get the Arkansas Edamame into foreign markets. Specifically into Eastern Asia, the home of soy heavy diets. “There’s a big middle class that’s emerging in China, and they’re becoming more educated about food choices,” Chung said. “And so, to them, when they see a ‘Made in the USA’ label, they want it.” Chung added in an interview with CBS.
Despite our reputation as a state that is unwilling to make changes to our established routines (Thanks, Orville), Arkansas has showed to be the perfect place for Chung to set up his company’s headquarters. Arkansas and Mulberry have embraced Chung and his idea to turn the River Valley into the Edamame capital of the world. With support from the local farmers, local and state government, and the scientists at the University of Arkansas, Chung and Mulberry have become leaders for a new generation of farmer and consumer. They’re showing that not only is it possible to make money in non-GMO soybeans, but that people want to buy them. They’re also proving that you don’t have to buy imported or specialty products to eat healthy. In fact, you can buy local to eat healthy, thanks to this amazing “superfood” known as Edamame that is now Made in Arkansas.
Made In Arkansas 