Edgar Filing: SENECA FOODS CORP /NY/

a10q122609.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

Form 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarter Ended December 26, 2009

Commission File Number 0-01989

Seneca Foods Corporation

(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)

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

3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York	14505
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Company's telephone number, including area code 315/926-8100

Not Applicable

Former name, former address and former fiscal year,

if changed since last report

Indicate by check mark whether the Company (1) has 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 the Company was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  No * (*Registrant is not subject to the requirements of Rule 405 of Regulation S-T at this time.)

Indicate by check mark whether the Company is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Company is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨ No þ

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock at the latest practical date are:

Class	Shares Outstanding at January 29, 2010
Common Stock Class A, $.25 Par	8,474,095
Common Stock Class B, $.25 Par	2,176,836

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION, ITEM 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

	Unaudited			Unaudited
	December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008			March 31, 2009
ASSETS

Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	18,233		$	13,637		$	5,849
Accounts Receivable, Net		60,503			83,211			76,713
Inventories (Note 2):
Finished Goods		532,724			480,671			292,248
Work in Process		10,758			5,949			2,513
Raw Materials and Supplies		60,311			52,221			98,194
Off-Season Reserve (Note 3)		(59,099	)		(50,558	)		-
Total Inventories		544,694			488,283			392,955
Deferred Income Tax Asset, Net		6,840			5,275			6,449
Other Current Assets		15,186			6,910			5,966
Total Current Assets		645,456			597,316			487,932
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		177,976			177,667			179,245
Deferred Income Tax Asset, Net		-			11,319			6,692
Other Assets		1,270			1,887			1,736
Total Assets	$	824,702		$	788,189		$	675,605
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
Notes Payable	$	13,197		$	-		$	-
Accounts Payable		86,028			91,667			60,019
Other Accrued Expenses		38,575			40,312			35,689
Accrued Vacation		9,678			9,591			9,843
Accrued Payroll		6,620			4,328			9,771
Income Taxes Payable		6,853			3,685			1,579
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt		6,231			39,023			38,949
Total Current Liabilities		167,182			188,606			155,850
Long-Term Debt, Less Current Portion		293,856			273,841			191,853
Deferred Income Taxes, Net		4,844			-			-
Other Long-Term Liabilities		28,813			45,247			45,477
Total Liabilities		494,695			507,694			393,180
Commitments
10% Preferred Stock, Series A, Voting, Cumulative,
Convertible, $.025 Par Value Per Share		102			102			102
10% Preferred Stock, Series B, Voting, Cumulative,
Convertible, $.025 Par Value Per Share		100			100			100
6% Preferred Stock, Voting, Cumulative, $.25 Par Value		50			50			50
Convertible, Participating Preferred Stock, $12.00
Stated Value Per Share		1,500			35,595			35,580
Convertible, Participating Preferred Stock, $15.50
Stated Value Per Share		5,344			8,585			8,571
Convertible, Participating Preferred Stock, $24.39
Stated Value Per Share		25,000			25,000			25,000
Common Stock $.25 Par Value Per Share		3,847			3,079			3,080
Additional Paid-in Capital		65,134			28,505			28,546
Treasury Stock, at cost		(257	)		(257	)		(257	)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		(13,731	)		(18,436	)		(19,160	)
Retained Earnings		242,918			198,172			200,813
Stockholders' Equity		330,007			280,495			282,425
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	824,702		$	788,189		$	675,605

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008		December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008

Net Sales	$	447,027		$	463,322	$	1,000,760		$	995,453

Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Product Sold		398,631			414,312		877,929			901,777
Selling and Administrative		16,000			20,489		48,851			54,096
Plant Restructuring		-			901		-			901
Other Operating (Income) Expense		(26	)		49		(57	)		(234	)
Total Costs and Expenses		414,605			435,751		926,723			956,540
Operating Income		32,422			27,571		74,037			38,913
Interest Expense, Net		2,006			3,695		7,189			11,058
Earnings Before Income Taxes		30,416			23,876		66,848			27,855

Income Taxes		11,810			10,040		24,731			11,731
Net Earnings	$	18,606		$	13,836	$	42,117		$	16,124

Earnings Applicable to Common Stock	$	16,306		$	8,636	$	33,361		$	10,056

Basic Earnings per Common Share	$	1.53		$	1.14	$	3.47		$	1.33

Diluted Earnings per Common Share	$	1.52		$	1.13	$	3.44		$	1.32

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)

	Nine Months Ended
	December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Earnings	$	42,117		$	16,124
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Earnings to
Net Cash Used in Operations:
Depreciation & Amortization		16,413			16,467
Gain on the Sale of Assets		(62	)		(234	)
Deferred Tax Expense		7,644			832
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts Receivable		16,210			(21,199	)
Inventories		(210,838	)		(143,155	)
Off-Season Reserve		59,099			50,558
Other Current Assets		(9,220	)		(60	)
Income Taxes		5,305			11,919
Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses
and Other Liabilities		17,417			34,011
Net Cash Used in Operations		(55,915	)		(34,737	)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment		(14,641	)		(15,124	)
Proceeds from the Sale of Assets		84			393
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		(14,557	)		(14,731	)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Long-Term Borrowing		408,814			402,428
Payments on Long-Term Debt		(339,529	)		(349,763	)
Borrowing on Notes Payable		13,197			-
Other		386			387
Repurchase of Company Stock		-			(257	)
Dividends		(12	)		(12	)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities		82,856			52,783
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		12,384			3,315
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of the Period		5,849			10,322
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of the Period	$	18,233		$	13,637

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

December 26, 2009

1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary to present fairly the financial position of Seneca Foods Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 26, 2009 and results of its operations and its cash flows for the interim periods presented. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. The March 31, 2009 balance sheet was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements. Certain previously reported amounts for the period ended March 31, 2009 and December 27, 2008 have been reclassified to conform to the current period classification.

The results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 26, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

In the nine months ended December 26, 2009, the Company sold $209,760,000 of Green Giant finished goods inventory to General Mills Operations, LLC (“GMOL”) for cash, on a bill and hold basis, as compared to $195,303,000 for the nine months ended December 27, 2008. Under the terms of the bill and hold agreement, title to the specified inventory transferred to GMOL. The Company believes it has met the criteria required for bill and hold treatment.

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Note 1 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company's 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company has evaluated all material subsequent events through February 1, 2010, the date of issuance of its condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Company implemented the Last-In, First-Out (“LIFO”) inventory valuation method during fiscal 2008. First-In, First-Out (“FIFO”) based inventory costs exceeded LIFO based inventory costs by $99,895,000 as of December 26, 2009. The increase in the LIFO Reserve for the first nine months of fiscal 2010 ended December 26, 2009 was $13,396,000 as compared to $41,892,000 for the first nine months ended December 27, 2008. This reflects the projected impact of reduced inflationary cost increases expected in fiscal 2010 versus fiscal 2009.

The seasonal nature of the Company's food processing business results in a timing difference between expenses (primarily overhead expenses) incurred and absorbed into product cost. These “off-season” variances are reserved for in a contra-inventory account and are included in the inventory section of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depending on the time of year, the off-season reserve is either the excess of absorbed expenses over incurred expenses to date resulting in a credit reserve balance, or the excess of incurred expenses over absorbed expenses to date resulting in a debit reserve balance. Other than at the end of the first and fourth fiscal quarters of each year, absorbed expenses exceed incurred expenses due to timing of production. All off-season reserve balances are zero at fiscal year end.

4.	During the nine-month period ended December 26, 2009, there were 3,064,869 shares, or $37,307,000, of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock converted to Class A Common Stock and 579,681 shares, or $145,000, of Class B Common Stock (at par), converted to Class A Common Stock.

As previously disclosed, on July 21, 2009 certain shareholders of the Company closed on the sale of 3,756,332 shares of Class A Common Stock (including the shares sold pursuant to the underwriters' over allotment option) pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement among the Company, the selling shareholders, Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. and Piper Jaffray & Co. The Company received none of the proceeds of the offering. During the second quarter of fiscal 2010, 2,607,156 shares, or $31,104,000, of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock and 556,088 shares, or $139,000, of Class B Common Stock (at par), were converted to Class A Common Stock in connection with this secondary stock offering.

5.	The following schedule presents comprehensive income (loss) for the three month and nine month periods ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	December 26, 2009	December 27, 2008	December 26, 2009	December 27, 2008

Comprehensive income (loss):
Net earnings	$18,606	$13,836	$42,117	$16,124
Change in 401(k) stock adjustment (net of tax)	(103)	115	(47)	130
Change in pension and post retirement benefits adjustment (net of tax)	-	(14,930)	5,476	(14,930)
Total	$18,503	$(979)	$47,546	$1,324

6.	The changes in the stockholders’ equity accounts for the nine months period ended December 26, 2009 consist of the following (in thousands):

						Additional					Accumulated Other
	Preferred			Common		Paid-In		Treasury			Comprehensive			Retained
	Stock			Stock		Capital		Stock			Loss			Earnings
Balance March 31, 2009	$	69,403		$	3,080	$	28,546	$	(257	)	$	(19,160	)	$	200,813
Net earnings		-			-		-		-			-			42,117
Cash dividends paid
on preferred stock		-			-		-		-			-			(12	)
Equity incentive program		-			-		48		-			-			-
Stock conversions		(37,307	)		767		36,540		-			-			-
Change in pension and post retirement
benefits adjustment (net of tax $3,471)		-			-		-		-			5,429			-
Balance December 26, 2009	$	32,096		$	3,847	$	65,134	$	(257	)	$	(13,731	)	$	242,918

7.	The net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension plan consisted of:

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008			December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	1,346		$	999		$	4,069		$	2,512
Interest cost		1,157			1,435			3,469			4,304
Expected return on plan assets		(997	)		(1,474	)		(2,992	)		(4,423	)
Amortization of actuarial loss		603			-			1,809			-
Amortization of transition asset		(69	)		(69	)		(207	)		(207	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,040		$	891		$	6,148		$	2,186

The Company made a $5,000,000 contribution during the first fiscal quarter of 2010 and a $16,000,000 contribution during the third fiscal quarter of 2010.

8.	The following table summarizes the restructuring and related asset impairment charges recorded and the accruals established:

		Long-Lived
	Severance	Asset Charges	Other Costs	Total
	(In thousands)
Total expected
restructuring charge	$2,152	$5,749	$3,926	$11,827

Balance March 31, 2009	$ -	$250	$1,035	$1,285
Second quarter charge	-	-	19	19
Third quarter credit	-	-	(2)	(2)
Cash payments/write offs	-	-	(192)	(192)
Balance December 26, 2009	$ -	$250	$860	$1,110

Total costs incurred
to date	$2,152	$5,499	$3,066	$10,717

During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company announced a Voluntary Workforce Reduction Program at its plant in Modesto, California which resulted in a restructuring charge for severance costs of $901,000. This program, which resulted in a more efficient operation, was completed and all costs were paid out in January 2009.

The other restructuring costs above relate to the phase out of the labeling operation of the leased distribution facility in Oregon, the closure of corn plants in Wisconsin and Washington and a green bean plant in upstate New York plus the removal of canned meat production from a plant in Idaho. The corn plant in Washington has been sold. The restructuring is complete in the Idaho plant and the New York plant. The Wisconsin plant is closed and is being operated as a warehouse.

The other costs relate to outstanding lease payments which will be paid over the remaining lives of the corresponding lease terms, which are up to five years.

9.	During the nine months ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, the Company sold some unused fixed assets which resulted in a gain of $62,000 and $234,000, respectively. Both gains are included in other operating income in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings.

10.

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2009-01, Topic 105 – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, (formerly Statement No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162). ASU No. 2009-01 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. The Codification does not change current U.S. GAAP, but is intended to simplify user access to all authoritative U.S. GAAP by providing all the authoritative literature related to a particular topic in one place. All existing accounting standard documents are superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the Codification is considered nonauthoritative. The Codification became effective for interim or annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009. We have made the appropriate changes to U.S. GAAP references in our financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued a new standard now codified in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” (formerly Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This standard applies to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. The standard does not require any new fair value measurements and was originally effective beginning January 1, 2008, but was subsequently deferred until January 1, 2009 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities except those items recognized or disclosed at fair value on an annual or more frequently recurring basis. We applied the fair value measurement and disclosure provisions of the new standard to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities effective January 1, 2009. The application of such was not material to our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 805 (formerly Statement No. 141(R), "Business Combinations"). The standard was designed to further enhance the accounting and financial reporting related to business combinations. The standard establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination (i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, (ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and (iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. The standard applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Therefore, the effects of the Company's adoption of the standard will depend upon the extent and magnitude of acquisitions after March 2009.

The FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 715 (formerly Statement No. 132(R)-1 issued on December 30, 2008, which amends Statement No. 132(R) "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits"), to expand disclosures in an employer's financial statements about plan assets. Among other things, the standard requires employers to disclose information regarding the fair value measurements of plan assets that are similar to the disclosures required by ASC 820 (e.g., information regarding the fair value disclosure hierarchy and rollforward of assets measured using Level 3 inputs). The disclosures about plan assets required by the standard are required for fiscal years ending on or after December 15, 2009. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the amended standard has on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In June 2008, the FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 815 (formerly known as Emerging Issues Tax Force (EITF) 07-5, “Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock”). This standard provides guidance in assessing whether an equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded feature) is indexed to an entity’s own stock for purposes of determining whether the appropriate accounting treatment falls under the scope of the standard (formerly known as Statement No. 133, “Accounting For Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” and/or EITF 00-19, “Accounting For Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock.”) This standard became effective as of the beginning of our 2010 fiscal year. This standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In June 2008, the FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 260 (formerly know as FSP EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities”). This standard provides that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and are required to be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method described in ASC 260 (formerly known as Statement No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.”) The Company’s unvested restricted shares under the Company’s equity compensation plan are considered participating securities. This standard was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. All prior period earnings per share data presented are required to be adjusted retrospectively to conform to the provisions of this FSP. Adoption of this standard had no material impact on earnings per share for fiscal 2010 or 2009.

In May 2009, the FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 855, (formerly Statement No. 165, “Subsequent Events”), which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. It became effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have any impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In June 2009, the FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 860 (formerly known as Statement No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets”). The standard amends the derecognition guidance in Statement No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In June 2009, the FASB issued a new standard now codified as ASC 855 (formerly known as Statement No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)”). The standard amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities and affects the overall consolidation analysis under the prior standard. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the amended standard has on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

11.	Earnings per share for the Quarters and Year-To-Date Periods Ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008 are as follows:

Quarter Ended			Q U A R T E R
December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008			2009		2008
			(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Basic

	Net earnings	$ 18,606		$ 13,836
	Deduct preferred stock dividends paid	6		6

	Undistributed earnings	18,600		13,830
	Earnings allocated to participating preferred	2,294		5,194

	Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$ 16,306		$ 8,636

	Weighted average common shares outstanding	10,648		7,587

	Basis earnings per common share	$ 1.53		$ 1.14

	Diluted

	Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$ 16,306		$ 8,636
	Add dividends on convertible preferred stock	5		5

	Earnings applicable to common stock on a diluted basis	$ 16,311		$ 8,641

	Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic	10,648		7,587
	Additional shares issued related to the equity compensation plan	2		-
	Additional shares to be issued under full conversion of preferred stock	67		67

	Total shares for diluted	10,717		7,654

	Diluted earnings per common share	$ 1.52		$ 1.13

Nine Months Ended	F I S C A L Y E A R T O D A T E
December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008	2009		2008
	(In thousands, except share amounts)
Basic

Net earnings	$	42,117	$	16,124
Deduct preferred stock dividends paid		17		17

Undistributed earnings		42,100		16,107
Earnings allocated to participating preferred		8,739		6,048

Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$	33,361	$	10,059

Weighted average common shares outstanding		9,624		7,590

Basis earnings per common share	$	3.47	$	1.33

Diluted

Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$	33,361	$	10,059
Add dividends on convertible preferred stock		15		15

Earnings applicable to common stock on a diluted basis	$	33,376	$	10,074

Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic		9,624		7,590
Additional shares issued related to the equity compensation plan		2		-
Additional shares to be issued under full conversion of preferred stock		67		67

Total shares for diluted		9,693		7,657

Diluted earnings per common share	$	3.44	$	1.32

12.

On September 28, 2009, the Company, GMOL and General Mills, Inc. entered into a Second Amended and Restated Alliance Agreement (the “Alliance Agreement”) pursuant to which certain provisions were modified to (i) amend numerous definitions to reflect current practices and various changes in the administrative and working capital costs included in the calculation of fees payable to the Company under the Alliance Agreement (resulting in a net increase of such components of the calculation); (ii) provide that the tolling fee per standard case paid to the Company shall be modified each year using an index to account for inflation factors, but in no event less than a base tolling fee; (iii) clarify risk allocation for losses related to damage claims not covered by insurance; (iv) require release of GMOL’s lien on certain core plants used by the Company to perform the Services upon the Company’s final note payment to GMOL on September 30, 2009; (v) provide that the remaining depreciation and lease costs related to certain closed plants that reduced the final note payment on September 30, 2009; and (vi) reduce the termination fee and extend the length of the advance notice time period required to terminate the Alliance Agreement without cause. This Alliance Agreement was filed with the second quarter of Fiscal 2010 Form 10-Q as Exhibit 10.

The secured subordinated promissory note to GMOL, with a balance of $32.1 million, matured on September 30, 2009 and was paid off, as scheduled, on September 30, 2009.

13.

As required by FSP No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” codified in ASC 825, “Financial Instruments,” the Company estimates the fair values of financial instruments on a quarterly basis. Long-term debt, including current portion had a carrying amount of $300,087,000 and an estimated fair value of $297,873,000 as of December 26, 2009. As of March 31, 2009, the carrying amount was $230,802,000 and the estimated fair value was $228,492,000.

14.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company entered into some interim lease notes which financed down payments for various equipment leases at market rates. As of December 26, 2009, some of these interim notes had not been converted into operating lease schedules since the equipment was either not delivered or fully installed. These notes, which total $13,197,000 as of December 26, 2009, are included under notes payable in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These notes are expected to be converted into lease schedules by the Company’s fiscal year end.

ITEM 2 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

December 26, 2009

Seneca Foods Corporation (the “Company”) is a leading low cost producer and distributor of high quality processed fruits and vegetables. The Company’s product offerings include canned, frozen and bottled produce and snack chips and its products are sold under private label as well as national and regional brands that the Company owns or licenses, including Seneca®, Libby’s®, Aunt Nellie’s Farm Kitchen®, Stokely’s®, Read® and Diamond A®. The Company’s canned fruits and vegetables are sold nationwide by major grocery outlets, including supermarkets, mass merchandisers, limited assortment stores, club stores and dollar stores. The Company also sells its products to foodservice distributors, industrial markets, other food processors, export customers in over 70 countries and federal, state and local governments for school and other food programs. In addition, the Company packs Green Giant®, Le Sueur® and other brands of canned vegetables as well as select Green Giant® frozen vegetables for General Mills Operations, LLC (“GMOL”) under a long-term Alliance Agreement.

The Company’s raw product is harvested mainly between June through November. The Company experienced favorable growing conditions last summer and early fall reflecting a combination of adequate heat units and moisture. These beneficial growing conditions favorably impacted crop yields and plant recovery rates which resulted in favorable manufacturing variances.

Results of Operations:

Sales:

Third fiscal quarter 2010 results include net sales of $447.0 million, which represents a 3.5% decrease, or $16.3 million, from the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The decrease in sales is attributable to a sales volume reduction of $19.0 million partially offset by increased selling prices/improved sales mix of $2.7 million. The reduction in sales is predominately due to decreased sales to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The decrease in sales is primarily from a $12.1 million decrease in Canned Vegetable sales and a $15.1 million decrease in Canned Fruit sales partially offset by a $12.3 million increase in Green Giant Alliance sales.

Net sales for the nine months ended December 26, 2009 were $1,000.8 million, which represents a 0.5%, or $5.3 million, increase from the nine months ended December 27, 2008. The increase in sales is attributable to increased selling prices/improved sales mix of $48.3 million partially offset by reduced sales volume of $43.0 million. The increase in sales is primarily from an $8.1 million increase in Green Giant Alliance sales, a $7.2 million increase in Snack sales and an $8.6 million increase in Canned Vegetable sales partially offset by a $17.2 million decrease in Canned Fruit sales.

The following table presents sales by product category (in millions):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	December 26, 2009		December 27, 2008		December 26, 2009		December 27, 2008
Canned Vegetables	$	219.8	$	231.9	$	558.8	$	550.2
Green Giant Alliance		155.9		143.6		231.9		223.8
Frozen Vegetables		11.7		10.1		34.9		30.7
Fruit Products		51.7		66.8		145.4		162.6
Snack		3.7		3.5		17.8		10.6
Other		4.2		7.4		12.0		17.6
	$	447.0	$	463.3	$	1,000.8	$	995.5

Operating Income:

The following table presents components of operating income as a percentage of net sales:

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008			December 26, 2009			December 27, 2008
Gross margin		10.8	%		10.6	%		12.3	%		9.4	%

Selling		2.1	%		2.7	%		2.8	%		3.3	%
Administrative		1.4	%		1.7	%		2.1	%		2.1	%
Plant restructuring		0.0	%		0.2	%		0.0	%		0.1	%
Other operating income		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%

Operating income		7.3	%		6.0	%		7.4	%		3.9	%

Interest expense		0.4	%		0.8	%		0.7	%		1.1	%

For the three month period ended December 26, 2009, the gross margin increased from the prior year quarter from 10.6% to 10.8% due primarily to a decreased LIFO charge and higher selling prices compared to the prior year which was partially offset by higher produce and steel costs of the current year pack as compared to the prior year. The LIFO charge for the third quarter ended December 26, 2009 was $3,967,000 as compared to $17,320,000 for the third quarter ended December 27, 2008 and reflects the impact on the quarter of reduced inflationary cost increases expected in fiscal 2010, compared to fiscal 2009. On an after-tax basis, LIFO reduced net earnings by $2,579,000 for the quarter ended December 26, 2009 and by $11,258,000 for the quarter ended December 27, 2008, based on the statutory federal income tax rate.

For the nine month period ended December 26, 2009, the gross margin increased from the prior year nine month period from 9.4% to 12.3% due primarily to a decreased LIFO charge and higher selling prices compared to the prior year which was partially offset by higher produce and steel costs of the current year pack as compared to the prior year. FIFO based inventory costs exceeded LIFO based inventory costs by $99,895,000 as of the end of the third quarter of 2010. The increase in the LIFO reserve for the nine months ended December 26, 2009 was $13,396,000 as compared to $41,892,000 for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 and reflects the impact on the nine month period of reduced inflationary cost increases expected in fiscal 2010, compared to fiscal 2009. On an after-tax basis, LIFO reduced net earnings by $8,707,000 for the nine months ended December 26, 2009 and by $27,230,000 for the nine months ended December 27, 2008, based on the statutory federal income tax rate.

For the three month period ended December 26, 2009, selling costs as a percentage of sales decreased from 2.7% to 2.1%. For the nine month period ended December 26, 2009, selling costs as a percentage of sales decreased from 3.3% to 2.8%. Selling costs as a percentage of sales decreased as a result of lower brokerage commissions and a favorable adjustment to an international customer claim of $1.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

For the three month period ended December 26, 2009, administrative expense as a percentage of sales decreased from 1.7% to 1.4%. For the nine month period ended December 26, 2009, administrative expense as a percentage of sales remained the same at 2.1%. Administrative expense decreased for the three months ended December 26, 2009 due primarily to higher employment costs in the prior period.

During the nine months ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, the Company sold some unused fixed assets which resulted in a gain of $62,000 and $234,000, respectively. Both gains are included in other operating income in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings.

Interest expense, as a percentage of sales, decreased from 0.8% for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 to 0.4% for the quarter ended December 26, 2009. For the nine months ended December 26, 2009, interest expense as a percentage of sales was 1.1% versus 0.7% for the nine months ended December 27, 2008. These decreases were due to lower interest rates in the current year periods compared to the prior year.

Income Taxes:

The effective tax rate was 38.8% and 42.1% for the three month periods ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, respectively. The effective tax rate was 37.0% and 42.1% for the nine month periods ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008 respectively. Of the 5.1 percentage point reduction in the effective tax rate for the current nine months period, 1.2 percentage points are due to an $801,000 tax effect of a pension adjustment recorded in the first quarter attributable to a prior year’s tax return and a 0.7 percentage point reduction is due to lower FIN 48 allowances in the current year. This reduction on a percentage point basis is magnified by the lower earnings in the prior year.

Earnings per Share:

Basic earnings per share were $1.53 and $1.14 for the three months ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, respectively. Diluted earnings per share were $1.52 and $1.13 for the three months ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, respectively. Basic earnings per share were $3.47 and $1.33 for the nine months ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, respectively. Diluted earnings per share were $3.44 and $1.32 for the nine months ended December 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, respectively. For details of the calculation of these amounts, refer to footnote 11 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources:

The financial condition of the Company is summarized in the following table and explanatory review (in thousands except ratios):

	December				March
	2009		2008		2009		2008
Working capital:
Balance	$	478,274	$	408,710	$	332,082	$	370,102
Change in quarter		71,879		10,525		-		-
Long-term debt, less current portion		293,856		273,841		191,853		250,039
Total stockholders' equity per equivalent
common share (see Note)		27.02		22.98		23.13		22.86
Stockholders' equity per common share		27.97		27.85		28.10		27.66
Current ratio		3.86		3.17		3.13		4.21

Note: Equivalent common shares are either common shares or, for convertible preferred shares, the number of common shares that the preferred shares are convertible into. See Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for conversion details.

As shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, net cash used in operating activities was $55.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $34.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009. The $21.2 million increased cash usage is primarily attributable to increased inventory of $151.7 million (exclusive of off-season reserve) in the first nine months of fiscal 2010 as compared to $92.6 million increase in inventory in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 and a $16.6 million decrease in cash provided by accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities as compared to the first nine months of December 27, 2008 partially offset by increased net earnings of $26.0 million as previously discussed, and a $37.4 million increase in cash provided by accounts receivable as compared to the first nine months of December 27, 2008. The inventory increase is due to higher steel costs and the timing of certain raw material purchases.

As compared to December 27, 2008, inventory increased $56.4 million. The components of the inventory increase reflect a $43.5 million increase in finished goods (net of the off-season reserve), a $4.8 million increase in work in process and $8.1 million increase in raw materials and supplies. The finished goods increase reflects higher inventory quantities attributable to increased production during the harvest season and decreased sales volume as compared to prior year. FIFO based inventory costs exceeded LIFO based inventory costs by $99.9 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2010 as compared to $70.0 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2009. The work in process and raw materials increases are primarily due to an increase in cans and raw steel quantities over the prior year. The off-season reserve increased by $8.5 million, as compared to December 2008, due to the timing of the seasonal pack and certain expenses. Refer to the Critical Accounting Policies section of this Form 10-Q for further details on the off-season reserve.

Cash used in investing activities was $14.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010 compared to $14.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $14.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010 as compared to $15.1 million in first nine months of fiscal 2009.

Cash provided by financing activities was $82.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010, which included borrowings of $422.0 million and the repayment of $339.5 million of long-term debt principally consisting of borrowing and repayment on the revolving credit facility (“Revolver”). The $30.1 million year-over-year increase in net cash provided by financing activities is primarily related to the $56.4 million increase in inventory discussed above. During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company entered into some interim lease notes which financed down payments for various equipment leases at market rates. As of December 26, 2009, some of these interim notes had not been converted into operating lease schedules since the equipment was either not delivered or fully installed. These notes, which total $13.2 million as of December 26, 2009, are included under notes payable in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These notes are expected to be converted into lease schedules by the Company’s fiscal year end. There was no new long-term debt.

In connection with the August 18, 2006 acquisition of Signature Fruit Company, LLC, the Company expanded its Revolver from $100 million to $250 million with a five-year term to finance its seasonal working capital requirements. The interest rate on the Revolver is based on LIBOR or Bank of America’s prime rate plus an applicable margin based on overall Company leverage. As of December 26, 2009, the interest rate was approximately 1.24% on a balance of $195.3 million. The secured subordinated promissory note to GMOL, which had a balance of $32.1 million and matured on September 30, 2009, was paid off. At January 29, 2010, the interest rate on the Revolver was 1.23% on a balance of $185.8 million. We believe that cash flows from operations, availability under our Revolver and other financing sources will provide adequate funds for our working capital needs, planned capital expenditures, and debt obligations for at least the next 12 months.

The Company’s credit facilities contain standard representations and warranties, events of default, and certain affirmative and negative covenants, including various financial covenants. At December 26, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all such financial covenants.

New Accounting Standards

Refer to footnote 10 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Seasonality

The Company's revenues typically have been higher in the second and third fiscal quarters. This is due in part because the Company sells, on a bill and hold basis, Green Giant canned and frozen vegetables to GMOL at the end of each pack cycle, which typically occurs during these quarters. GMOL buys the product from the Company at cost plus a specified fee for each equivalent case. See the Critical Accounting Policies section below for further details. The Company’s non-Green Giant sales also exhibit seasonality with the third fiscal quarter generating the highest sales due to retail sales during the holiday period.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained in this report contains, or may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this report and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers (including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates” or similar expressions) with respect to various matters, including (i) the Company’s anticipated needs for, and the availability of, cash, (ii) the Company’s liquidity and financing plans, (iii) the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquisitions into its operations, (iv) trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, including anticipated sales price levels and anticipated expense levels, in particular higher production, fuel and transportation costs, (v) the Company’s plans for expansion of its business (including through acquisitions) and cost savings, and (vi) the impact of competition.

Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:

·	general economic and business conditions;

·	cost and availability of commodities and other raw materials such as vegetables, steel and packaging materials;

·	transportation costs;

·	climate and weather affecting growing conditions and crop yields;

·	leverage and the Company’s ability to service and reduce its debt;

·	foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations;

·	effectiveness of the Company’s marketing and trade promotion programs;

·	changing consumer preferences;

·	competition;

·	product liability claims;

·	the loss of significant customers or a substantial reduction in orders from these customers;

·	changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, U.S., foreign and local governmental regulations, including environmental and health and safety regulations; and

·	other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the SEC.

Except for ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the filing of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Critical Accounting Policies

In the nine months ended December 26, 2009, the Company sold $209,760,000 of Green Giant finished goods inventory to GMOL for cash, on a bill and hold basis, as compared to $195,303,000 for the nine months ended December 27, 2008. Under the terms of the bill and hold agreement, title to the specified inventory transferred to GMOL. The Company believes it has met the criteria required for bill and hold treatment.

The seasonal nature of the Company's food processing business results in a timing difference between expenses (primarily overhead expenses) incurred and absorbed into product cost. These “off-season” variances are reserved for in a contra-inventory account and are included in the Inventory section of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depending on the time of year, the off-season reserve is either the excess of absorbed expenses over incurred expenses to date resulting in a credit reserve balance, or the excess of incurred expenses over absorbed expenses to date resulting in a debit reserve balance. Other than at the end of the first and fourth fiscal quarter of each year, absorbed expenses exceed incurred expenses due to timing of production. All off-season reserve balances are zero at fiscal year end.

Trade promotions are an important component of the sales and marketing of the Company’s branded products, and are critical to the support of the business. Trade promotion costs, which are recorded as a reduction of net sales, include amounts paid to encourage retailers to offer temporary price reductions for the sale of our products to consumers, amounts paid to obtain favorable display positions in retailers’ stores, and amounts paid to retailers for shelf space in retail stores. Accruals for trade promotions are recorded primarily at the time of sale of product to the retailer based on expected levels of performance. Settlement of these liabilities typically occurs in subsequent periods primarily through an authorized process for deductions taken by a retailer from amounts otherwise due to us. As a result, the ultimate cost of a trade promotion program is dependent on the relative success of the events and the actions and level of deductions taken by retailers for amounts they consider due to them. Final determination of the permissible deductions may take extended periods of time.

ITEM 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is exposed to various market risk factors, including changes in general economic conditions, competition and raw material pricing and availability. In addition, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates, primarily related to its revolving credit facility. To manage interest rate risk, the Company uses both fixed and variable interest rate debt. There have been no material changes to the Company’s exposure to market risk since March 31, 2009.

ITEM 4 Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains a system of internal and disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. The Company’s Board of Directors, operating through its Audit Committee, which is composed entirely of independent outside directors, provides oversight to the financial reporting process.

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in our reports that we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed and reported on a timely basis. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 26, 2009, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that our controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in this report.

There have been no changes during the period covered by this report to the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

We have completed a multi-year implementation of SAP, an enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system. During the quarter ended September 27, 2008, we successfully replaced our financial reporting, fixed assets and procure-to-pay systems. The second phase of the SAP project, which focused on our human resource information and payroll systems, was implemented the quarter ended June 27, 2009. The third phase of the SAP project, which we implemented during the quarter ended September 26, 2009, replaced our order-to-cash system. This implementation has resulted in certain changes to business processes and internal controls impacting financial reporting. We have evaluated the control environment as affected by the implementation and believe that our controls remained effective.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended March 31, 2009 other than as disclosed under “Risk Factors” of the Prospectus Supplement dated July 15, 2009.

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) or Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
Period	Class A Common	Class B Common	Class A Common	Class B Common
10/01/09 – 10/31/09	-	-	-	-	N/A
11/01/09 – 11/30/09	11,900	-	$22.26	-	N/A
12/01/09 – 12/31/09	8,200	-	$23.59	-	N/A
Total	20,100	-	$22.81	-	N/A	486,500

__________

(1) These purchases were made in open market transactions by the trustees under the Seneca Foods Corporation Employees' Savings Plan 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to provide employee matching contributions under the plan.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

31.1 Certification of Kraig H. Kayser pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)

31.2 Certification of Roland E. Breunig pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)

32 Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)

99 Information included under “Risk Factors” of the Prospectus Supplement dated July 15, 2009.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Seneca Foods Corporation

(Company)

/s/Kraig H. Kayser

February 1, 2010

Kraig H. Kayser

President and

Chief Executive Officer

/s/Roland E. Breunig

February 1, 2010

Roland E. Breunig

Chief Financial Officer