LITTLE ROCK — UPDATE

A $5.8 million edamame processing facility will create more than 50 full-time jobs in Mulberry, officials announced Tuesday.

American Vegetable Soybean and Edamame announced Tuesday it will open the facility in the Crawford County city. It wasn't immediately clear when the new jobs will be filled.

Edamame is a soybean harvested at the peak of ripening and often eaten as a snack, a vegetable dish or processed in other foods.

Gov. Mike Beebe was among a number of officials who announced the processing facility Tuesday in Mulberry.

“The arrival of American Vegetable Soybean and Edamame in Mulberry marks an exciting new opportunity for the Arkansas River Valley,” he said in a news release. “AVS’s parent company, JYC International, has been a leader in developing America’s edamame market, and brings along a client base that will be a boon for Crawford County.”

Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter called the development "exciting" in thanking the company for selecting his city.

"We truly believe that this is a blessing from God for our community, our region, our state and our country at a time when jobs are at the forefront of our nation’s economic discussions," he said in a statement. "Yes, we are grateful.”

EARLIER

Gov. Mike Beebe made a special announcement to residents of Mulberry on Tuesday regarding the creation of 50 soybean processing jobs for the town.

According to Beebe's Twitter account, the governor plans to announce an investment of edamame in Mulberry, which is in Crawford County.

"Edamame in Crawford County? Yes. It means 50 good jobs for Mulberry, and half the town may be in the room for this announcement," Beebe's office tweeted Tuesday. The office also tweeted, "I'm confident that Arkansas will become the edamame capital of the U.S.," quoting Dr. Gene Chung, president of JYC International.

Betty Bowlin said Mayor Gary Baxter told the city council about those new jobs at its last meeting, though he didn't specify the company.

"Any kind of jobs would be great, I'm telling you," Bowlin said. " We need some tax."

Baxter did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Further details on the investment weren't immediately known. Arkansas Online will have more on this story following the news conference.