SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K


                Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year-ended March 31, 20012002          Commission File Number 0-1989

                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         New York                                      16-0733425
         --------                                      ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

1162 Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford,3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York                 1453414505
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                 -----
(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (716) 385-9500(315) 926-8100

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                   Name of Each Exchange on
Title of Each Class                                    Which Registered

      None                                                   None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                         Common Stock Class A, $.25 Par
                         Common Stock Class B, $.25 Par
                                (Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained herein, and
will not be  contained,  to best of the  registrant'sRegistrant's  knowledge,  in definitive
proxy or information  statements  incorporated  by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K.   X
                                             -----

Check mark indicates whether registrantRegistrant has (1) filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that  registrant was required to
file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to the filing  requirements for at
least the past 90 days.

Yes   X    No
     -----       ---------       ----

The  aggregate  market  value  of the  Registrant's  voting  securities  held by
non-affiliates  based on the  closing  sales  price per  market  reports  by the
National Market System on June 1, 20012002 was approximately $73,174,000.$78,483,000.

Common shares outstanding as of June 1, 20012002 were Class A:  3,814,345,3,823,115, Class B:
2,767,357.2,764,005.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

(1)  Proxy Statement to be issued prior to June 30, 20012002 in connection with the
     registrant'sRegistrant's annual meeting of stockholders (the "Proxy Statement")
     applicable to Part III, Items 10-13 of Form 10-K.

(2)  Portions of the Annual Report to shareholders for fiscal year ended March
     31, 20012002 (the "2001"2002 Annual Report") applicable to Part II, Items 5-8 and
     Part IV, Item 14 of Form 10-K.





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                      FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT - FISCAL 20012002
                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION

PART I. Pages ----- Item 1. Business 1-3 Item 22. Properties 3 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 4 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Equity Security Holders 4 PART II. Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters 4 Item 6. Selected Financial Data 4 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 4 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 45 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 5 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 5 PART III. Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 7 Item 11. Executive Compensation 7 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 7 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 7 PART IV. Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K 7-10 SIGNATURES 11-12
PART I Item 1 Business General Development of Business SENECA FOODS CORPORATION (the "Company") was organized in 1949 and incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. In the spring of 1995, the Company began operations under itsinitiated a 20-year Alliance Agreement with The Pillsbury Company, which created the Company's most significant business relationship. Under the Alliance Agreement, the Company has packed canned and frozen vegetables carrying Pillsbury's Green Giant brand name. These Green Giant vegetables have been produced in vegetable plants, which the Company acquired from Pillsbury and, to a lesser extent, in the Company's other vegetable plants, which also produce vegetables under the Libby's brand name, which is licensed to the Company, and other brand names owned by the Company or its customers. Since the onset of the Alliance Agreement, vegetable production has been the Company's dominant line of business. In fiscal 1999, the Company sold its fruit juice business and its applesauce and industrial flavors business. As a result of these fiscal 1999 divestitures, the Company's only non-vegetable food products are a line of fruit products. Financial Information about Industry Segments The Company's business activities are conducted in food and non-food segments.operations. The food segmentoperation constitutes 98% of total sales, of which approximately 97% is vegetable processing and 3% is fruit processing. The non-food segmentoperation is an air charter service, which represents 2% of the Company's business. Consequently, the financial information related to segments is not material.total sales. Narrative Description of Business Principal Products and Markets Food Processing The principal products of this segment include canned vegetable, frozen vegetable and fruit products. The products are sold to retail and institutional markets. The Company has divided the United States into four major marketing sections: Eastern, Southern, Northwestern, and Southwestern. VegetableFood processing operations are primarily supported by plant locations in New York, Wisconsin, Washington, Idaho, and Minnesota. Plant locations in Kentucky, Michigan and Washington provide ready access to the domestic sources of fruit necessary to support marketing efforts in their respective sections of the country. The following table summarizes net sales by major product category for the years ended March 31, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999:2000:
Classes of similar products/services: 2002 2001 2000 1999 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) Net Sales: Green Giant vegetables $ 258,412 $ 290,346 $ 263,279 $ 289,946 Canned vegetables 333,048 326,224 291,436 250,266 Frozen vegetables 25,165 22,052 27,889 20,446 Fruit and chip products 19,982 20,092 21,075 18,117 Flight operations 5,588 5,905 5,105 4,225 Other 8,880 9,681 12,294 5,049 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 651,075 $ 674,300 $ 621,078 $ 588,049 =======================================================================================================
Other Seneca Flight Operations provides air charter service primarily to industries in upstate New York. Source and Availability of Raw Material Food Processing The Company's food processing plants are located in major vegetable and fruit producing states. Fruits and vegetables are primarily obtained through contracts with growers. The Company's sources of supply are considered equal or superior to its competition for all of its food products. Seasonal Business Food Processing While individual fruits and vegetables have seasonal cycles of peak production and sales, the different cycles are usually offsetting to some extent. The supply of commodities, current pricing, and expected new crop quantity and quality, affect the timing of the Company's sales and earnings. An Off Season Allowance is established during the year to minimize the effect of seasonal production on earnings. The Off Season Allowance is zero at fiscal year-end. Backlog Food Processing In the food processing business, the end of year sales order backlog is not considered meaningful. Traditionally, larger customers provide tentative bookings for their expected purchases for the upcoming season. These bookings are further developed as data on the expected size of the related national harvests becomes available. In general, these bookings serve as a yardstick, rather than as a firm commitment, since actual harvest results can vary notably from early estimates. In actual practice, the Company has substantially all of its expected seasonal production identified to potential sales outlets before the seasonal production is completed. Competition and Customers Food Processing Competition in the food business is substantial with imaginative brand registration, quality, service, and pricing being the major determinants in the Company's relative market position. During the past year approximately 9% of the Company's processed foods were packed for retail customers under the Company branded labels of Libby's(R), Blue Boy(R), Aunt Nellie's Farm Kitchen(R), and Seneca(R). About 16%14% of the processed foods were packed for institutional food distributors and 31%36% of processed foods were retail packed under the private label of customers. The remaining 44%41% is sold under the Alliance Agreement with Pillsbury (see note 13 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data). Termination of the Alliance Agreement would have a material adverse effect onsubstantially reduce the Company's sales and profitability unless the Company taken aswere to enter into a whole.new substantial supply relationship with Pillsbury or another major vegetable marketer. The customers represent a full cross section of the retail, institutional, distributor, and industrial markets and the Company does not consider itself dependent on any single sales source other than sales attributable to the Alliance Agreement. The principal branded products are Libby's canned vegetable products, which rate among the top five national brands. The information under the heading Liquidity and Capital ResourcesResults of Operations in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 20012002 Annual Report is incorporated by reference. Environmental Protection Environmental protection is an area that has been worked on most diligently at each food processing facility. In all locations, the Company has cooperated with federal, state, and local environmental protection authorities in developing and maintaining suitable antipollution facilities. In general, pollution control facilities are equal to or somewhat superior to those of our competitors and are within environmental protection standards. The Company does not expect any material capital expenditures to comply with environmental regulations in the near future. The Company is a potentially responsible party with respect to two waste disposal sites owned and operated by others. The Company believes that any reasonably anticipated liabilities will not exceed $260,000$137,000 in the aggregate. Environmental Litigation The Company is a defendant in a suit entitled State of Wisconsin vs. Seneca Foods Corporation, et. al., commenced July 30, 2001, in the Rock County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court. In the suit, the Wisconsin Department of Justice seeks civil penalties against the Company. The State alleges that the Company stored and/or disposed of two different types of materials at a Wisconsin facility in violation of applicable laws. The Company has cooperated with Wisconsin authorities to remove the materials and complete remediation activities but is contesting the State's efforts to recover a monetary penalty. The first subject matter of the suit involved events, which occurred approximately 19 years ago, and there was no addition of materials in subsequent years. The second subject matter of the suit involved two events between 1995 and 1999. All material at issue in the action has been removed and properly disposed of. If civil penalties are imposed, by judgment or settlement, the Company would incur a liability, although the ultimate amount of the liability that might be incurred is uncertain. The Company's reported net earnings for fiscal 2002 reflects an estimated charge with respect to this matter, which may be less or more than the ultimate charge, in which case an appropriate adjustment will be made in subsequent financial periods. The Company does not anticipate that future compliance will require significant changes in its production and packing operations. Employment ---------- Food processing - Full time 2,2671,995 - Seasonal 337306 --------- 2,6042,301 Other 9482 --------- 2,698 =========2,383 ======== The Company has four collective bargaining agreements with three union locals covering approximately 539 of its full time employees. The terms of these agreements result in wages and benefits, which are substantially the same for comparable positions for the Company's non-union employees. Three collective bargaining agreements expire in calendar 2002.2003. The remaining agreement expires in calendar 2003.2004. Foreign Operations Export sales for the Company are a relatively small portion (about 3%) of the food processing sales. Item 2 Properties The Company has seven food processing, packaging, and warehousing facilities located in New York State that provide approximately 1,653,0001,588,000 square feet of food packaging, freezing and freezer storage, and warehouse storage space. These facilities process and package fruit and vegetable products. The Company is a lessee under a number of operating and capital leases for equipment and real property used for processing and warehousing. Six facilities in Minnesota, two facilities in Washington, one facility in Idaho, and six facilities in Wisconsin provide approximately 5,606,0005,708,000 square feet of food packaging, freezing and freezer storage, and warehouse storage space. These facilities process and package various vegetable and fruit products. The facilities are owned by the Company. The Company's air charter division has a 42,000 square foot facility, which is owned by the Company. All of the properties are well maintained and equipped with modern machinery. All locations, although highly utilized, have the ability to expand as sales requirements justify. Because of the seasonal production cycles the exact extent of utilization is difficult to measure. In certain circumstances, the theoretical full efficiency levels are being reached; however, expansion of the number of production days or hours could increase the output by up to 20% for a season. Certain of the Company's facilities are mortgaged to financial institutions to secure long-term debt and capital lease obligations. See Notes 4 and 5 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information about the Company's long-term debt and lease commitments. Item 3 Legal Proceedings In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is made a party to certain legal proceedings seeking monetary damages. The Company does not believe that an adverse decision in any of these proceedings would have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Environmental Litigation for further legal discussion. Item 4 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Equity Security Holders No matters were submitted to vote of shareholders during the last quarter of the fiscal period covered by this report. PART II Item 5 Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters Each class of preferred stock receives preference as to dividend payment and declaration over any common stock. In addition, refer to the information in the 20012002 Annual Report, "Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results", which is incorporated by reference. Item 6 Selected Financial Data Refer to the information in the 20012002 Annual Report, "Five Year Selected Financial Data", which is incorporated by reference. Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Refer to the information in the 20012002 Annual Report, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", which is incorporated by reference. Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Refer to the information in the 20012002 Annual Report, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk", which is incorporated by reference. Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Refer to the information in the 20012002 Annual Report, "Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto including Independent Auditors' Report", which is incorporated by reference. Item 9 Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure None.Not applicable. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Seneca Foods Corporation Pittsford,Marion, New York We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Seneca Foods Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 20012002 and 2000,2001, and for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2001,2002, and have issued our report thereon dated May 25, 2001;24, 2002; such consolidated financial statements and report are included in your 20012002 Annual Report to Shareholders and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedule of Seneca Foods Corporation, listed in Item 14 (A)(2). This consolidated financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. /s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Rochester, New York May 25, 200124, 2002 PART III Item 10 Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant Item 11 Executive Compensation Item 12 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management Item 13 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions Information required by Items 10 through 13 will be filed separately with the Commission, pursuant to Regulation 14A, in a definitive proxy statement involving the election of directors, which is incorporated herein by reference. PART IV Item 14 Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K A. Exhibits, Financial Statements, and Supplemental Schedules 1. Financial Statements - the following consolidated financial statements of the Registrant, included in the Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 2001,2002, are incorporated by reference in Item 8: Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings - Years ended March 31, 2002, 2001 2000 and 19992000 Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2002 and 2001 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended March 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - March 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - Years ended March 31, 2002, 2001 2000 and 19992000 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Years ended March 31, 2002, 2001 2000 and 19992000 Independent Auditors' Report Pages ----- 2. Supplemental Schedule: --------------------- Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 9 Other schedules have not been filed because the conditions requiring the filing do not exist or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto. 3. Exhibits: -------- No. 3 - Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A filed August, 1995; as amended by the amendments filed with the Company's Form 10-K filed June 1996, as amended by the Company's definitive proxy statement filed July, 1998. No. 4 - Articles defining the rights of security holders - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A filed August, 1995 as amended by amendments filed with the Company's Form 10-K filed June 1996. Instrument defining the rights of any holder of Long-Term Debt - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed January 1995 as amended by Exhibit No. 4 of the Company's Form 10-K filed June, 1997, amended by Exhibit 4 of the Company's Form 10-Q and Form 10-Q/A filed November, 1997, as amended by amendments filed with the Company's definitive proxy statement filed July, 1998. The Company will furnish, upon request to the SEC, a copy of any instrument defining the rights of any holder of Long-Term Debt. No. 10 - Material Contracts - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K dated February 24, 1995 for the First Amended and Restated Alliance Agreement and the First Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement both with The Pillsbury Company. No. 13 - The material contained in the 2001
Pages ----- 2. Supplemental Schedule: --------------------- Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 9 Other schedules have not been filed because the conditions requiring the filing do not exist or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto. 3. Exhibits: -------- No. 3 - Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A filed August, 1995; as amended by the amendments filed with the Company's Form 10-K filed June 1996, as amended by the Company's definitive proxy statement filed July, 1998. No. 4 - Articles defining the rights of security holders - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A filed August, 1995 as amended by amendments filed with the Company's Form 10-K filed June 1996. Instrument defining the rights of any holder of Long-Term Debt - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed January 1995 as amended by Exhibit No. 4 of the Company's Form 10-K filed June, 1997, amended by Exhibit 4 of the Company's Form 10-Q and Form 10-Q/A filed November, 1997, as amended by amendments filed with the Company's definitive proxy statement filed July, 1998. The Company will furnish, upon request to the SEC, a copy of any instrument defining the rights of any holder of Long-Term Debt. No. 10 - Material Contracts - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K dated February 24, 1995 for the First Amended and Restated Alliance Agreement and the First Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement both with The Pillsbury Company amended by the Company's Form 8-K dated June 11, 2002. Filed herewith is an Indemnification Agreement dated January 31, 2002. No. 13 - The material contained in the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders under the following headings: "Five Year Selected Financial Data", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", "Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto including Independent Auditors' Report", "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk", and "Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results". No. 21 - List of Subsidiaries 10 No. 23 - Consents of Experts and Counsel 10 B. Reports on Form 8-K None.
Schedule II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (In thousands)
Balance at Charged/ Charged to Deductions Balance Beginning (Credited) other from at end of period to income accounts reserve of period ------------------------------------------------------------------- Year-ended March 31, 2002: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 632 $ 190 $ --- $ 217 (a) $ 605 =================================================================== Year-ended March 31, 2001: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 469 $ 188 $ -- $ 25 (a) $ 632 =================================================================== Year-ended March 31, 2000: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 487 $ (5) $ -- $ 13 (a) $ 469 =================================================================== Year-ended March 31, 1999: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 207 $ 425 $ -- $ 145 (a) $ 487 =================================================================== (a) Accounts written off, net of recoveries.
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. SENECA FOODS CORPORATION By/s/ Jeffrey L. Van Riper June 12, 2001 ---------------------------------------------6, 2002 ------------------------------------- Jeffrey L. Van Riper Controller and Secretary (Principal Accounting Officer) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- /s/Arthur S. Wolcott Chairman and Director June 12, 2001 - -------------------- Arthur S. Wolcott /s/Kraig H. Kayser President, Chief Executive Officer, June 12, 2001 - ------------------ and Director Kraig H. Kayser /s/Philip G. Paras Chief Financial Officer June 12, 2001 - ------------------ Philip G. Paras /s/Jeffrey L. Van Riper Controller and Secretary June 12, 2001 - ----------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer) Jeffrey L. Van Riper /s/Arthur H. Baer Director June 12, 2001 - ----------------- Arthur H. Baer /s/Andrew M. Boas Director June 12, 2001 - ----------------- Andrew M. Boas /s/Robert T. Brady Director June 12, 2001 - ------------------ Robert T. Brady /s/David L. Call Director June 12, 2001 - ---------------- David L. Call /s/Edward O. Gaylord Director June 12, 2001 - -------------------- Edward O. Gaylord /s/G. Brymer Humphreys Director June 12, 2001 - ---------------------- G. Brymer Humphreys /s/Susan W. Stuart Director June 12, 2001Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- /s/Arthur S. Wolcott Chairman and Director June 6, 2002 - -------------------- Arthur S. Wolcott /s/Kraig H. Kayser President, Chief Executive Officer, June 6, 2002 - ------------------ Kraig H. Kayser and Director /s/Philip G. Paras Chief Financial Officer June 6, 2002 - ------------------ Philip G. Paras /s/Jeffrey L. Van Riper Controller and Secretary June 6, 2002 - ----------------------- Jeffrey L. Van Riper (Principal Accounting Officer) /s/Arthur H. Baer Director June 6, 2002 - ----------------- Arthur H. Baer /s/Andrew M. Boas Director June 6, 2002 - ----------------- Andrew M. Boas /s/Robert T. Brady Director June 6, 2002 - ------------------ Robert T. Brady Continued Signature Title Date /s/Douglas F. Brush Director June 6, 2002 - ------------------- Douglas F. Brush /s/Edward O. Gaylord Director June 17, 2002 - -------------------- Edward O. Gaylord /s/G. Brymer Humphreys Director June 6, 2002 - ---------------------- G. Brymer Humphreys /s/Susan W. Stuart Director June 6, 2002 - ------------------ Susan W. Stuart