Governor Hutchinson Proclaims November as Arkansas Soybean Month

Governor Hutchinson Proclaims November as Arkansas Soybean Month

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 1, 2016 - Governor Hutchinson issued a proclamation declaring November as Arkansas Soybean Month to acknowledge Arkansas soybean producers and the economic impact they have on our state. In the 2015 growing season, Arkansas producers harvested 3.1 million acres of soybeans, valued at more than $1.5 billion. Soybeans are grown in 41 counties of Arkansas and rank as the state’s largest row crop, accounting for more acres than rice, corn, sorghum and wheat combined.

In honor of Arkansas Soybean Month, the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board’s educational food program, the Kitchen|Fields Table Tour, has partnered with restaurants across the state to serve a feature dish dedicated to Arkansas soybean producers. The Kitchen|Fields Table Tour was developed to encourage Arkansans to eat more soy foods and soy-fed protein, such as pork, beef, turkey and chicken. To raise awareness this month, the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board is encouraging Arkansans to take a photo of the feature dish at partner restaurants and use the official Kitchen|Fields Table Tour hashtag, #ARSoySupper, when sharing on social media channels.

Gary Sitzer, a fourth-generation farmer in Poinsett County and chairman of the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board said, “We are proud to promote Arkansas Soybean Month through our educational food program, the Kitchen|Fields Table Tour. This program launched last year and has been able to show Arkansans how they can support their local soybean producers by eating soy and soy-fed products. We hope everyone can visit a restaurant partner this month and learn how the soybean industry is an enormous contributor to the state’s economy each year.”

Soybeans, also known as the “miracle bean,” can be found in almost every aisle of the supermarket and even in most hardware stores. Soybeans deliver essential nutrients and high-quality protein to Arkansans and farm animals, such as pigs, cattle, turkeys and chickens through their diets.

For more information about the Kitchen|Fields Table Tour restaurant partners, soy food and recipes, and the many products made with soybeans, visit TheMiracleBean.com.

The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board consists of soybean producers appointed by the Governor and nominated by various producer organizations within Arkansas. Although board members contribute many hours of their time to administering the program, they serve without pay.

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