COMPETING FOR THE U.S. EDAMAME MARKET AND BEYOND USING U.S. EDAMAME VARIETIES AND PRODUCTION
Agronomy & Pest Management
Craig Altemose
State College
Abstract
Altemose,* C.A.1, Antle, M.E.2, Curran, W.S.3, Lingenfelter, D.D.4, Roth, G.W.5 \r\n\r\n1. Senior Extension Educator, Penn State Extension, Centre County, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823\r\n2. Research Specialist, Penn State University, Crop and Soil Science, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802\r\n3. Professor of Weed Science, Penn State University, Crop and Soil Science, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802\r\n4. Extension Agronomist - Weed Science, Penn State University, Crop and Soil Science, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802\r\n5. Professor of Agronomy, Penn State University, Crop and Soil Science, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802\r\n\r\n\r\nEdamame is a food grade soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) harvested (at R6 maturity) as an immature fully developed green soybean in the pod. It originated in East Asia and is becoming popular in the United States. It is a healthy source of protein, energy, isoflavones, vitamins B6, E, and is high in oleic acid. Edamame is sold in the pod by restaurants as appetizers and as a shelled product in snack food, salads, stir fry, and other dishes. The majority of Edamame is imported to the United States from Asia. Because of its large market potential, Penn State Extension (PSE) is working with other universities, USDA, and private industries to introduce U.S. developed Edamame varieties to the U.S. and global market. Edamame is a high value crop, producers can produce without retooling, and gross $1,600 per acre under contract from a processor. PSE has done research on experimental varieties comparing them to leading Asia varieties for size, quality, and yield characteristics. PSE has helped industry secure seed agreements on four varieties that are competitive and bring them to market. Mechanical harvest research, done by PSE, to meet large scale production and processing needs, found that a snap bean harvester could harvest the Edamame in the pod and use a large box sheller to shell it. Herbicide tolerance research was done on Edamame varieties and results shared with herbicide manufacturers on which herbicide treatments caused least injury. As a result one herbicide is labeled and eight are pending labeling.
Authors: Altemose, C.
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Altemose, C. Senior Extension Educator, Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania, 16823