--03-31 FY 2021
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Annual Report Pursuant

(Mark one)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019

Commission File Number 0-01989

__________

Commission File Number 0-01989
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

3736 South Main Street
Marion, New York

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

16-0733425

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

14505

(Zip Code)

(315) 926-8100

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (315) 926-8100
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol

Name of Each Exchangeeach exchange on

Which Registered

which registered

Common Stock Class A, $.25 Par

SENEA

NASDAQ Global Market

Common Stock Class B, $.25 Par

SENEB

NASDAQ Global Market

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

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes No   X  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes No   X  

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

Yes   X   No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).

Yes   X   No

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

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer   X  Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting companyXEmerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

Yes No   X  

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates basednon‑affiliates of the Registrant as of September 25, 2020, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $232,133,327 (based on the closing salesshare price per market reports bygenerated from the NASDAQ Global Market System on October 1, 2018 was approximately $217,512,000.

September 25, 2020).

As of May 25, 2019,2021, there were 7,605,0497,343,745 shares of Class A common stock and 1,874,8611,705,938 shares of Class B common stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

(1)

Portions of the Annual Report to shareholders for fiscal year ended March 31, 20192021 (the “2019“2021 Annual Report”) applicable to Part I, Item 1, Part II, Items 5-9A5‑9A and Part IV, Item 15 of Form 10-K.

10‑K.

(2)

Portion of the Proxy Statement to be issued in connection with the Registrant’s annual meeting of stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) applicable to Part III, Items 10-14 of Form 10-K.

 

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2019

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION

PART I.

 

Pages

Item 1.

1-4

Item 1A.

5-9

5-10

Item 1B.

10

Item 2.

10

11

Item 3.

10

12

Item 4.

10

12
   

PART II.

  

Item 5.

11

13

Item 6.

12

13

Item 7.

12

14

Item 7A.

12

14

Item 8.

12

14

Item 9.

12

14

Item 9A.

12-14

14-16

Item 9B.

14

16
   

PART III.

  

Item 10.

15

17

Item 11.

15

17

Item 12.

15

17

Item 13.

15

17

Item 14.

15

17
   
PART IV.
  

PART IV.

Item 15.

16-17

18-19
Item 16.19
   

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

17

SIGNATURES
 21

SIGNATURES

20

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained in this annual report on Form 10-K are forward-looking statements made within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are not in the present or past tense and, in some cases, can be identified by the use of the words "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seeks," "should," "likely," "targets," "may", "can" and other expressions that indicate future trends and events. A forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and reflects management's analysis only as of the date thereof. The CompanySeneca Foods Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. The following factors, among others discussed herein and in the Company's filings of Seneca Foods Corporation under the Exchange Act, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, suppliers, customers, consumers and employees, costs and availability of raw materials, competition, cost controls, sales levels, governmental regulation, consumer preferences, industry trends, weather conditions, crop yields, natural disasters, recalls, litigation, reliance on third-parties, wage rates, and other factors. See also the factors described in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this report, and those described in the Company's filings under the Exchange Act.

PART I

Item 1

Business

History and Development of Seneca Foods Corporation

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION (the “Company”) is one of North America's leading providers of packaged fruits and vegetables with facilities located throughout the United States. 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®, READ®, Green Valley® and CherryMan®. The Company packs Green Giant, Le Sueur and other brands of canned vegetables as well as select Green Giant frozen vegetables for B&G Foods North America (“B&G”) under a contract packing agreement.

As of March 31, 2019,2021, the Company’s facilities consisted of 22 packaging plants strategically located throughout the United States, two can manufacturing plants one of which also packages, three seed packaging operations, a farming operation and a logistical support network. The Company also maintains warehouses which are generally located adjacent to its packaging plants. The Company is a New York corporation and its headquarters is located at 3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York and its telephone number is (315) 926-8100.

The Company was founded in 1949 and duringhas evolved through internal growth and strategic acquisitions. The Company pursues acquisitions when they are strategic and financially additive and meet its 71overall business needs. In 73 years of operation the Company has made over 50 strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of the long-term license for the Libby’s brand in 1983, the purchase of General Mills’ Green Giant packaging assetsinvestments and entry into an Alliance Agreement with General Mills Operations, LLC in 1995 and the acquisition of Chiquita Processed Foods in 2003. The Company believesalliances that these acquisitions have enhanced the Company’sexpanded its leadership position in the private labelpackaged fruit and foodservice canned vegetable markets in the United States and significantly increased its international sales. In August 2006,industry. Most recently, during 2021, the Company acquired Signature Fruita facility in Berlin, Wisconsin to aid its frozen business by expanding freezing capability and adding frozen celery production to the core fruit and vegetable business. The Company LLC, a leading produceralso engages in strategic sales of canned fruits located in Modesto, California which was sold during 2019. In 2013,its assets from time to time, as it makes financial sense to do so. During 2021, the Company completed the sale of its acquisitionprepared foods business as the nature of 100% ofthat business was not central to the membership interestCompany’s primary business and the sale allowed for the continued focus and investment in Independent Foods, LLC. In April 2014, the Company purchased a 50% equity interest in Truitt Bros. Inc. In April 2018, the Company acquired the balance of the Truitt Bros. Inc. stock.  In 2016, the Company acquired Gray & CompanyCompany’s core fruit and Diana Foods Co., Inc., each leading providers of maraschino cherries and other cherry products. The plants acquired are in Hart, Michigan and Dayton, Oregon. During 2019, the Company sold its Modesto fruit operations, its Lebanon frozen packaging operation and its Marion Can Plant.

vegetable business.

Available Information

The Company’s Internet address is www.senecafoods.com. The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available on the Company’s web site, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. All such filings on the Company’s web site are available free of charge. Information on our website is not part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In addition, the Company's website includes items related to corporate governance matters, including charters of various committees of the Board of Directors and the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Company intends to disclose on its website any amendment to or waiver of any provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that would otherwise be required to be disclosed under the rules of the SEC and NASDAQ.

1

Financial Information about Industry Segments

The

Entering 2021, the Company managesmanaged its business on the basis of three reportable segments which makeup its food operation – the primary segment isbeing the packaging and sale of fruitsfruit and vegetables, another segment is prepared foods and the last segment issecondarily, the packaging and sale of chipprepared food products and third being the packaging and sale of snack products. These three segments constituteOther nonfood products round out the food operation.Company’s operations. During December 2021, the Company completed the sale of its prepared foods business, leaving two remaining reportable segments. The Company’s food operation constitutes 99%constituted 98% of total sales in 2021, of which approximately 73%81% is canned vegetable packaging, 8%6% is canned fruit packaging, 11%7% is frozen fruit and vegetable packaging, 7% for5% is prepared foods prior to the sale, and 1% is fruit chip packaging. The non-food operation, which is primarily related to the sale of cans and ends and outside revenue generated from our trucking and aircraft operations, represents 1%2% of the Company’s total sales.

1

Table of Contents

Narrative Description of Business

Principal Products and Markets

Food Packaging

Packaging

The Company’s principal products include canned fruitsfruit and vegetables, frozen vegetables and other food products. The products are sold nationwide by major grocery outlets, including supermarkets, mass merchandisers, limited assortment stores, club stores and dollar stores. Additionally, products are sold to food service distributors, industrial markets, other food packagers, export customers in 90 countries and federal, state and local governments for school and other feeding programs. Food packaging operations are primarily supported by plant locations in New York, Michigan, Kentucky, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, Idaho, Illinois, and Minnesota. See Note 14 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information about the Company’s segments.

The following table summarizes net sales by major product category for the years ended March 31, 20192021 and 2018:

Classes of similar products/services:

 

2019

  

2018

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Net Sales:

 
Green Giant * $71,161  $124,811 
Canned vegetables  815,780   721,121 
Frozen  113,115   105,857 
Fruit  91,941   91,019 
Prepared foods  79,593   92,826 
Snack  9,684   10,110 
Other  18,307   17,150 
Total $1,199,581  $1,162,894 

* Green Giant includes canned and frozen vegetables exclusively for B&G Foods.

2020:

  2021  2020 
  (In thousands) 
Canned vegetables $1,172,635  $986,080 
Frozen  102,339   119,044 
Fruit Products  88,289   97,393 
Prepared foods  71,866   105,044 
Chip Products  10,999   11,475 
Other  21,516   16,733 
Total $1,467,644  $1,335,769 
Source and Availability of Raw Materials

The Company’s food packaging plants are located in major vegetable producing states and in four fruit producing states. Fruits and vegetablesVegetables are primarily obtained through supply contracts with independent growers.

Intellectual Property

The Company's most significant brand name, Libby's®Libby's®, is held pursuant to a trademark license granted to the Company in March 1982 and renewable by the Company every 10 years for an aggregate period expiring in March 2081. The original licensor was Libby, McNeill & Libby, Inc., then an indirect subsidiary of Nestlé, S. A. ("Nestlé") and the license was granted in connection with the Company's purchase of certain of the licensor's canned vegetable operations in the United States. Corlib Brands Management, LTD acquired the license from Nestlé during 2006. The license is limited to vegetables which are shelf-stable, frozen, and thermally packaged, and includes the Company's major vegetable varieties – corn, peas and green beans – as well as certain other thermally packaged vegetable varieties and sauerkraut.

The Company is required to pay an annual royalty to Corlib Brands now known as Libby's Brand Holding, Ltd., who may terminate the license for non-payment of royalty, use of the trademark in sales outside the licensed territory, failure to achieve a minimum level of sales under the licensed trademark during any calendar year or a material breach or default by the Company under the agreement (which is not cured within the specified cure period). With the purchase of Signature Fruit Company, LLC, which also uses the Libby’s®Libby’s® brand name, the Company re-negotiated the license agreement and created a new, combined agreement based on Libby’s®Libby’s® revenue dollars for fruits, vegetables, and dry beans. During 2021, the Company and Libby’s Brand Holding, Ltd. renegotiated again to remove fruit from the license agreement. A total of $315,000$114,000 was paid as a royalty fee for the year ended March 31, 2019.

2021.

The Company also sells canned fruits and vegetables, frozen vegetables and other food products under several other brands for which the Company has obtained registered trademarks, including, Aunt Nellie’s®Nellie’s®, Cherryman®CherryMan®, Green Valley®Valley®, READ®READ®, and Seneca®Seneca® and other regional brands.

2

Seasonal Business

While individual fruits and vegetables have seasonal cycles of peak production and sales, the different cycles are somewhat offsetting. Minimal food packaging occurs in the Company's last fiscal quarter ending March 31, which is the optimal time for maintenance, repairs and equipment changes in its packaging plants. The supply of commodities, current pricing, and expected new crop quantity and quality affect the timing and amount of the Company’s sales and earnings. When the seasonal harvesting periods of the Company's major fruits and vegetables are newly completed, inventories for these packaged fruits and vegetables are at their highest levels. For peas, the peak inventory time is mid-summer and for corn, the Company's highest volume vegetable, the peak inventory is in mid-autumn. For pears and cherries, the peak inventory is late-summer.

These seasonal fluctuations are illustrated in the following table, which presents certain unaudited quarterly financial information for the periods indicated:

  

First

Quarter

  

Second

Quarter

  

Third

Quarter

  

Fourth

Quarter

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Year ended March 31, 2019:

                

Net sales

 $244,093  $320,660  $372,238  $262,590 

Gross margin

  16,788   11,008   (2,096) $13,796 

(Loss) earnings from continuing operations

  (2,160)  (5,634)  (20,040)  (8,649)

Revolver outstanding (at quarter end)

  207,610   242,947   214,161   155,278 
                 

Year ended March 31, 2018:

                

Net sales

 $241,175  $327,664  $354,894  $239,161 

Gross margin

  13,501   21,671   28,778  $17,053 

(Loss) earnings from continuing operations

  (633)  1,443   8,886   353 

Revolver outstanding (at quarter end)

  226,010   272,609   290,196   293,459 

  
First
Quarter
  
Second
Quarter
  
Third
Quarter
  
Fourth
Quarter
 
  (In thousands) 
Year ended March 31, 2021:                
Net sales $288,165  $390,294  $484,392  $304,793 
Gross margin  48,562   48,943   77,704   56,976 
Net earnings  20,706   18,105   72,460   14,829 
Revolver outstanding (at quarter end)  34,406   62,611   -   1,000 
                 
Year ended March 31, 2020:                
Net sales $264,925  $370,002  $392,971  $307,871 
Gross margin  19,174   24,055   52,277   46,382 
Net earnings  1,103   4,635   24,428   21,022 
Revolver outstanding (at quarter end)  136,014   133,338   114,689   106,924 
Backlog

In the food packaging business, an 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

Competition in the food business is substantial with brand recognition and promotion, quality, service, and pricing being the major determinants in the Company’s relative market position. The Company believes that it is a major producer of canned fruits and vegetables, but some producers of canned, frozen and other forms of fruit and vegetable products have sales which exceed the Company's sales. The Company is aware of approximately 14at least 13 competitors in the U.S. packaged vegetable industry, many of which are privately held companies. The Company is aware of approximately nine competitors in the U.S. packaged fruit industry. In addition, there are significant quantities of fruit that are imported from Europe, Asia, and South America.

During the past year, approximately 11%10% of the Company’s packaged foods, salesexcluding cherry products, were packed for retail customerssold under the Company’s branded labels of Seneca®its own brands, or licensed trademarks, including Seneca®, Libby’s®Libby's®, CherryMan®Aunt Nellie's®, Green Valley®, Aunt Nellie’s®Valley® and READ®READ®. About 20%The remaining 90% of packaged foods sales were packed for institutional food distributors and 63% were retail packed under the private label of our customers. The remaining 6% was sold under a Contract Packing Agreement with B&G Foods (the “Green Giant Agreement”) (see note 14 of Item 8, Financial Statementsprivate labels, food service, international, contracting packaging, industrial, prepared foods, chips, and Supplementary Data). Termination ofcherry products (including the Green Giant Agreement would substantially reduce the Company’s sales and profitability unless the Company was to enter into a new substantial supply relationship with Green Giant or another major vegetable marketer. The non-Green Giant 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 Green Giant Agreement.

CherryMan® brand) segments.

The Company's principal branded products are its Libby’s canned fruit and vegetable products, which rate among the top three national brands according to a leading market research firm.

The information under the heading "Results of Operations in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the 20192021 Annual Report is incorporated by reference.

3

Environmental Regulation

Environmental Protection

Environmental protection is an area that has been worked on diligently at each food packaging 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, we believe our 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.

There has been a broad range of proposed and promulgated state, national and international regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change. In the United States, there is a significant possibility that some form of regulation will be forthcoming at the federal level to address the effects of climate change. Such regulation could result in the creation of additional costs in the form of taxes, the restriction of output, investments of capital to maintain compliance with laws and regulations, or required acquisition or trading of emission allowances.

Environmental Litigation and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is made a party to certain legal proceedings seeking monetary damages, including proceedings involving product liability claims, worker’s compensation and other employee claims, tort and other general liability claims, for which it carries insurance as well as patent infringement and related litigation. The Company is in a highly regulated industry and is also periodically involved in government actions for regulatory violations and other matters surrounding the manufacturing of its products, including, but not limited to, environmental, employee, and product safety issues. While it is not feasible to predict or determine the ultimate outcome of these matters, the Company does not believe that an adverse decision in any of these legal proceedings would have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Employment

As of the end of December 2018,2020, the Company had approximately 3,7003,000 employees of which 3,3002,900 full time and 400100 seasonal employees work in food packaging and 100 full time employees work in other activities. The number of employees increases toby approximately 7,0004,000 due to an increase in seasonal employees during our peak pack season.

The Company has six collective bargaining agreements with three unions covering approximately 840 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.  There are three agreements that will expire in calendar 2020, two agreements that will expire in calendar 2022, two agreements that will expire in calendar 2023, one agreement that will expire in calendar 2024, and one agreement that will expire in calendar 2023.

2025.

Domestic and Export Sales

The following table sets forth domestic and export sales from continuing operations:

  

Fiscal Year

 
  

2019

  

2018

 
  

(In thousands, except percentages)

 

Net Sales:

        

United States

 $1,109,704  $1,076,270 

Export

  89,877   86,624 

Total Net Sales

 $1,199,581  $1,162,894 
         

As a Percentage of Net Sales:

        

United States

  92.5%  92.6%

Export

  7.5%  7.4%

Total

  100.0%  100.0%

The following table sets forth domestic and export sales:
  Fiscal Year 
  2021  2020 
  (In thousands, except percentages) 
Net Sales:        
United States $1,372,679  $1,248,904 
Export  94,965   86,865 
Total Net Sales $1,467,644  $1,335,769 
         
As a Percentage of Net Sales:        
United States  93.5%  93.5%
Export  6.5%  6.5%
Total  100.0%  100.0%
4

Item 1A

Risk Factors

The following factors as well as factors described elsewhere in this Form 10-K or in other filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could adversely affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Other factors not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material could also affect our business operations or financial results. The Company refers to itself as “we”, “our” or “us” in this section.

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Risks

Excess capacity in the fruit and vegetable industry has a downward impact on selling price.

Canned fruit and

If canned vegetable categories are declining, with that;decline, less shelf space is beingwill be devoted to these categories in the supermarkets. Fresh and perishable businesses are improving their delivery systems around the world and the availability of fresh produce is impacting the consumers purchasing patterns relating to processed fruits and vegetables. Our financial performance and growth are related to conditions in the United States’ fruit and vegetable packaging industry which is a mature industry with a modest growth rate during the last 10 years. Our net sales are a function of product availability and market pricing. In the fruit and vegetable packaging industry, product availability and market prices tend to have an inverse relationship: market prices tend to decrease as more product is available and to increase if less product is available. Product availability is a direct result of plantings, growing conditions, crop yields and inventory levels, all of which vary from year to year. Moreover, fruit and vegetable production outside the United States, particularly in Europe, Asia and South America, is increasing at a time when worldwide demand for certain products, is being impacted by the global economic slowdown. These factors may have a significant effect on supply and competition and create downward pressure on prices. In addition, market prices can be affected by the planting and inventory levels and individual pricing decisions of our competitors. Generally, market prices in the fruit and vegetable packaging industry adjust more quickly to variations in product availability than an individual packager can adjust its cost structure; thus, in an oversupply situation, a packager’s margins likely will weaken. We typically have experienced lower margins during times of industry oversupply.

In the past, the fruit and vegetable packaging industry has been characterized by excess capacity, with resulting pressure on our prices and profit margins. We have closed packaging plants in past years in response to the downward pressure on prices. There can be no assurance that our margins will improve in response to favorable market conditions or that we will be able to operate profitably during depressed market conditions.

Growing cycles and adverse weather conditions may decrease our results from operations.

Our operations are affected by the growing cycles of the fruits and vegetables we package. When the fruits and vegetables are ready to be picked, we must harvest and package them quickly or forego the opportunity to package fresh picked fruits and vegetables for an entire year. Most of our fruits and vegetables are grown by farmers under contract with us. Consequently, we must pay the contract grower for the fruits and vegetables even if we cannot or do not harvest or package them. Most of our production occurs during the second quarter (July through September) of our fiscal year, which corresponds with the quarter that the growing season ends for most of the produce packaged by us. A majority of our sales occur during the secondthird and thirdfourth quarters of each fiscal year due to seasonal consumption patterns for our products. Accordingly, inventory levels are highest during the second and third quarters, and accounts receivable levels are highest during the third and fourth quarters. Net sales generated during our third and fourth fiscal quarters have a significant impact on our results of operations. Because of these seasonal fluctuations, the results of any particular quarter, particularly in the first half of our fiscal year, will not necessarily be indicative of results for the full year or for future years.

We set our planting schedules without knowing the effect of the weather on the crops or on the entire industry’s production. Weather conditions during the course of each fruit and vegetable crop’s growing season will affect the volume and growing time of that crop. As most of our vegetables are produced in more than one part of the U.S., this somewhat reduces the risk that our entire crop will be subject to disastrous weather. The upper Midwest is the primary growing region for the principal vegetables which we pack, namely peas, green beans and corn, and it is also a substantial source of our competitors’ vegetable production. The adverse effects of weather-related reduced production may be partially mitigated by higher selling prices for the fruits and vegetables which are produced.

The commodity materials that we package or otherwise require are subject to price increases that could adversely affect our profitability.

The materials that we use, such as fruits and vegetables, steel (used to make cans), ingredients, pouches and other packaging materials as well as the electricity and natural gas used in our business, are commodities that may experience price volatility caused by external factors, including market fluctuations, availability, currency fluctuations and changes in governmental regulations and agricultural programs. General inventory positions of major commodities, such as field corn, soybeans and wheat, all commodities with which we must compete for acreage, can have dramatic effects on prices for those commodities, which can translate into similar swings in prices needed to be paid for our contracted commodities. These programs and other events can result in reduced supplies of these commodities, higher supply costs or interruptions in our production schedules. If prices of these commodities increase beyond what we can pass along to our customers, our operating income will decrease.

Global Trade Policy Could Adversely Impact Our Results From Operations

Recently, the U.S. Government imposed 25% duties on the importation of steel from most of the steel producing countries around the world. Seneca Foods makes its own cans using tin-plated and tin-free steel purchased from both domestic and off-shore suppliers. The duties will potentially have an impact on the cost of steel that the Company has already committed for but yet not received from off-shore suppliers. In addition, based on information provided by domestic suppliers, the cost of steel in the future will substantially increase. This will create higher costs of the primary packaging used by the Company for its products. The ability to pass on these costs to our customers is an unknown risk. In addition, other countries have or are threatening to impose retaliatory duties on items produced in the U.S. including the Company’s products. This will limit the export potential for the Company’s products going forward.

5

Risks Associated With Our Operations

COVID-19: Pandemics or disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may disrupt our business, including among other things, our supply chain, our manufacturing operations and customer and consumer demand for our products, and could have a material adverse impact on our business.
The ultimate impact that the recent COVID-19 outbreak or any future pandemic or disease outbreak will have on our business and our consolidated results of operations is uncertain. To date we have seen increased customer and consumer demand for our products as the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States and consumers began pantry loading and increasing their at-home consumption as a result of increased social distancing and stay-at-home mandates. Increases in net sales by our company to supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers and ecommerce customers have more than offset declines at foodservice customers. However, this increased customer and consumer demand may decrease in the coming months.
The spread of pandemics or disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 may negatively affect our operations. If a significant percentage of our workforce or the workforce of our third party business partners is unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic or any future pandemic or disease outbreak, our operations may be negatively impacted. Some of our workforce dwell in company provided housing and therefore outbreaks such as COVID-19 would need to be managed, to the extent possible, to meet health care protocols. Pandemics or disease outbreaks could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect economies and financial markets, consumer spending and confidence levels resulting in an economic downturn that could affect customer and consumer demand for our products.
Our efforts to manage and mitigate these factors may be unsuccessful, and the effectiveness of these efforts depends on factors beyond our control, including the duration and severity of any pandemic or disease outbreak, as well as third party actions taken to contain its spread and mitigate public health effects.
The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business will depend on many factors, including, among others, the duration of social distancing and stay-at-home mandates and whether a second or third wave of COVID-19 will affect the United States and the rest of North America, our ability to continue to operate our manufacturing facilities and maintain the supply chain without material disruption, and the extent to which macroeconomic conditions resulting from the pandemic and the pace of the subsequent recovery may impact consumer eating habits. We cannot predict the duration or scope of the disruption. Therefore, the financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
We depend upon key customers.

Our products are sold in a highly competitive marketplace, which includes increased concentration and a growing presence of large-format retailers and discounters. Dependence upon key customers could lead to increased pricing pressure by these customers.

Green Giant products packed by us in fiscal years 2019 and 2018 constituted approximately 6% and 11%, respectively, A relatively limited number of our total sales. Our sales of Green Giant product and financial performance under the Contract Packing Agreement depend tocustomers account for a significant extent on our success in producing quality Green Giant vegetables at competitive costs and B&G Foods success in marketing the products produced by us. The ability of B&G Foods to successfully market these products will depend upon B&G Foods’s sales efforts as well as the factors described above under “Excess capacity in the fruit and vegetable industry has a downward impact on selling price.” We cannot give assurance as to the volume of B&G Foods’s sales and cannot control manylarge percentage of the key factors affecting that volume.

Additionally, purchases by the United Sates Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) in fiscal year 2019Company’s total net sales. The top ten customers represented approximately 2.1%50%, and 49% of our total sales. The purchase of our products by the USDA is done through the government’s competitive bid process. We bid on stated product requirementsnet sales for 2021 and needs as presented by the USDA and, if we are the successful bidder, we fulfill the contract and deliver the product. The government contracting process is complex and subject to numerous regulations and requirements. Failure by us to comply with the regulations and requirements for government contracts could jeopardize our ability to contract with the government and could result in reduced sales or prohibition on submitting bids to the USDA. The government procurement process could also change and result in our inability to meet the new requirements. Additionally, the government’s need for our products could decrease, which would result in reduced sales to the USDA.

2020, respectively. If we lose a significant customer or if sales to a significant customer materially decrease, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

If we do not maintain the market shares of our products, our business and revenues may be adversely affected.

All of our products compete with those of other national and regional food packaging companies under highly competitive conditions. The vegetable products which we sell under our own brand names not only compete with vegetable products produced by vegetable packaging competitors, but also compete with products we produce and sell to other companies who market those products under their own brand names, such as the Green Giant and Del Monte vegetables we sell to B&G Foods under the Contract Packing Agreementcontract packing agreements and the fruits and vegetables we sell to various retail grocery chains which carry our customer’s own brand names.

The customers who buy our products to sell under their own brand names control the marketing programs for those products. In recent years, many major retail food chains have been increasing their promotions, offerings and shelf space allocations for their own fruit and vegetable brands, to the detriment of fruit and vegetable brands owned by the packagers, including our own brands. We cannot predict the pricing or promotional activities of our customers/competitors or whether they will have a negative effect on us. There are competitive pressures and other factors, which could cause our products to lose market share or result in significant price erosion that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

6

Increases in logistics and other transportation-related costs could materially adversely impact our results of operations.

Our ability to competitively serve our customers depends on the availability of reliable and low-cost transportation. We use multiple forms of transportation to bring our products to market. They include trucks, intermodal, rail cars, and ships. Disruption to the timely supply of these services or increases in the cost of these services for any reason, including availability or cost of fuel, regulations affecting the industry, or labor shortages in the transportation industry, could have an adverse effect on our ability to serve our customers, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are subject to product liability claims, we may incur significant and unexpected costs and our business reputation could be adversely affected.

Food packagers are subject to significant liability should the consumption of their products cause injury or illness. We work with regulators, the industry and suppliers to stay abreast of developments. A product liability judgment against us could also result in substantial and unexpected expenditures, affect consumer confidence in our products, and divert management’s attention from other responsibilities. Product liability claims may also lead to increased scrutiny by federal and state regulatory agencies and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation. Although we maintain comprehensive general liability insurance coverage, there can be no assurance that this level of coverage is adequate or that we will be able to continue to maintain our existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance at a reasonable cost, if at all. A product recall or a partially or completely uninsured judgment against us could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are increasingly dependent on information technology;technology; disruptions, failures or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

We may become exposed to potential liabilities with respect to the data that we collect, manage and process, and may incur legal costs if our information security policies and procedures are not effective or if we are required to defend our methods of collection, processing and storage of data. Future investigations, lawsuits or adverse publicity relating to our methods of handling data could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows due to the costs and negative market reaction relating to such developments.

We may not have the resources or technical expertise to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. Actual or anticipated attacks will cause us to incur increased costs, including costs to hire additional personnel, purchase additional protection technologies, train employees, and engage third-party experts and consultants. In addition, data and security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including breach by us or by persons with whom we have commercial relationships that result in the unauthorized release of confidential information. Any compromise or breach of our security could result in violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our reputation.

We generate agricultural food packagingpackaging wastes and are subject to substantial environmental regulation.

As a food packager, we regularly dispose of produce wastes (silage) and processing water as well as materials used in plant operation and maintenance, and our plant boilers, which generate heat used in packaging, produce generally small emissions into the air. These activities and operations are regulated by federal and state laws and the respective federal and state environmental agencies. Occasionally, we may be required to remediate conditions found by the regulators to be in violation of environmental law or to contribute to the cost of remediating waste disposal sites, which we neither owned nor operated, but in which, we and other companies deposited waste materials, usually through independent waste disposal companies. Future possible costs of environmental remediation, contributions and penalties could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Table of Contents

Our production capacity for certain products and commodities is concentrated in a limited number of facilities, exposing us to a material disruption in production in the event that a disaster strikes.

We only have three plants that receive and produce fruit products and one plant that produces pumpkin products. We have two plants that manufacture empty cans, one with substantially more capacity than the other, which are not interchangeable since each plant cannot necessarily produce all the can sizes needed. Although we maintain property and business interruption insurance coverage, there can be no assurance that this level of coverage is adequate in the event of a catastrophe or significant disruption at these or other Company facilities. If such an event occurs, it could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may undertake acquisitions or product innovations and may have difficulties integrating them or may not realize the anticipated benefits.

In the future, we may undertake acquisitions of other businesses or introduce new products, although there can be no assurances that these will occur. Such undertakings involve numerous risks and significant investments. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify and acquire acquisition candidates on favorable terms, to profitably manage or to successfully integrate future businesses that we may acquire or new products we may introduce without substantial costs, delays or problems. Any of these outcomes could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

7

We are dependent upon a seasonal workforce and our inability to hire sufficient employees may adversely affect our business.

At the end of our 20192021 fiscal year, we had approximately 3,7003,000 employees of which 3,3002,900 full time and 400100 seasonal employees worked in food packaging and 100 employees worked in other activities. During the peak summer harvest period, we hire up to approximately 7,0004,000 seasonal employees to help package fruits and vegetables. If there is a shortage of seasonal labor, especially during 2021 as a result of COVID-19 or if there is an increase to minimum wage rates, this could have a negative impact on our costscost of operations. Many of our packaging operations are located in rural communities that may not have sufficient labor pools, requiring us to hire employees from other regions. An inability to hire and train sufficient employees during the critical harvest period could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There may be increased governmental legislative and regulatory activity in reaction to consumer perception related to BPA.

There has been continued state legislative activity to ban Bisphenol-A ("BPA") from food contact packaging. These legislative decisions are predominantly driven by consumer perception that BPA may be harmful. These actions have been taken despite the scientific evidence and general consensus of United States and international government agencies that BPA is safe and does not pose a risk to human health. The legislative actions combined with growing public perception about food safety may require us to change some of the materials used as linings in our packaging materials. Failure to do so could result in a loss of sales as well as loss in value of the inventory utilizing BPA containing materials. The Company, in collaboration with other can makers as well as enamel suppliers, has decided to aggressively work to find alternative materials for can linings not manufactured using BPA. However, commercially acceptable alternatives are not immediately available for some applications and there can be no assurance that these steps will be successful. Less than 1% of our canned product volume (excluding B&G Foods and purchased canned products) still includes BPA.

The implementationimplementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 may affect ooperationsperations

The Food Safety Modernization Act ("FSMA") was enacted with the goal of enabling the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to better protect public health by strengthening the food safety system. FSMA was designed to focus the efforts of FDA on preventing food safety problems rather than relying primarily on reacting to problems after they occur. The law also provides FDA with new enforcement authorities designed to achieve higher rates of compliance with prevention and risk-based food safety standards and to better respond to and contain problems when they do occur.  The increased inspections, mandatory recall authority of the FDA, increased scrutiny of foreign sourced or supplied food products, and increased records access may have an impact on our business. As we are already in a highly regulated business, operating under the increased scrutiny of more FDA authority does not appear likely to negatively impact our business.  The law also gives FDA important new tools to hold imported foods to the same standards as domestic foods.

The Company’sCompanys results are dependent on successful marketplace initiatives and acceptance by consumers of the Company’sCompanys products.

The Company’s product introductions and product improvements, along with its other marketplace initiatives, are designed to capitalize on new customer or consumer trends.  The FDA recently issued a statement on sodium which referred to an Institute of Medicine statement that too much sodium is a major contributor to high blood pressure. Some of our products contain a moderate amount of sodium per recommended serving, which is based on consumer’s preferences for taste.  In order to remain successful, the Company must anticipate and react to these new trends and develop new products or packages to address them. While the Company devotes significant resources to meeting this goal, we may not be successful in developing new products or packages, or our new products or packages may not be accepted by customers or consumers.

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Regulations related to “conflict minerals” may cause us to incur additional expenses and could limit the supply and increase the cost of certain metals used primarily in manufacturing our canned products.

On August 22, 2012, the SEC adopted a new rule requiring disclosures of specified minerals, known as conflict minerals, that are necessary to the functionality or production of products manufactured or contracted to be manufactured by companies filing public reports. The rule, which requires a disclosure report to be filed by May 31 each year, requires companies to perform country of origin inquiries, due diligence as required, disclosure, and reporting whether such minerals originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo or an adjoining country.  The conflict mineral rule could affect sourcing at competitive prices and availability in sufficient quantities of certain minerals, including, tin, which is used primarily in the manufacture of our cans. The number of suppliers, who provide conflict-free minerals in steel production, or other components, may be limited. In addition, there may be significant costs associated with complying with the disclosure requirements, such as costs related to determining the source of certain minerals used in the manufacture of our cans, as well as costs of possible changes to products, packages, or sources of supply as a consequence of such verification activities. Since our supply chain is complex, we may not be able to sufficiently verify the origins of the relevant minerals used in our products through the procedures that we implement, which may hurt our business. In addition, we may encounter significant challenges to satisfy those customers who require that all of the components of our products be certified as conflict-free, which could place us, as well as our competitors, at a disadvantage if we are unable to do so.

Financing Risks

Global economic conditions may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Unfavorable economic conditions, including the impact of recessions in the United States and throughout the world, may negatively affect our business and financial results. These economic conditions could negatively impact (i) consumer demand for our products, (ii) the mix of our products’ sales, (iii) our ability to collect accounts receivable on a timely basis, (iv) the ability of suppliers to provide the materials required in our operations and (v) our ability to obtain financing or to otherwise access the capital markets. The strength of the U.S. dollar versus other world currencies could result in increased competition from imported products and decreased sales to our international customers. A prolonged recession could result in decreased revenue, margins and earnings. Additionally, the economic situation could have an impact on our lenders or customers, causing them to fail to meet their obligations to us. The occurrence of any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

8

Our ability to manage our working capital and our Revolver is critical to our success.

As of March 31, 2019,2021, we had approximately $303.9$169.4 million of total indebtedness, including various debt agreements capital lease and a $155.3$1.0 million outstanding balance on our $400.0 million to $500.0 million revolving credit facility (“Revolver”).  Scheduled debt service for fiscal 20192021 is $6.8$28.3 million. During our second and third fiscal quarters, our operations generally require more cash than is available from operations.  In these circumstances, it is necessary to borrow under our Revolver.  Our ability to obtain financing in the future through credit facilities will be affected by several factors, including our creditworthiness, our ability to operate in a profitable manner and general market and credit conditions.  Significant changes in our business or cash outflows from operations could create a need for additional working capital.  An inability to obtain additional working capital on terms reasonably acceptable to us or access the Revolver would materially and adversely affect our operations. Additionally, if we need to use a portion of our cash flows to pay principal and interest on our debt, it will reduce the amount of money we have for operations, working capital, capital expenditures, expansions, acquisitions or general corporate or other business activities. 

Failure to comply with the requirements of our debtdebt agreements and Revolver could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our debt agreements and Revolver contain financial and other restrictive covenants which, among other things, limit our ability to borrow money, including with respect to the refinancing of existing indebtedness. These provisions may limit our ability to conduct our business, take advantage of business opportunities and respond to changing business, market and economic conditions. In addition, they may place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to other companies that may be subject to fewer, if any, restrictions. Failure to comply with the requirements of our Revolver and debt agreements could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have pledged our accounts receivable, inventory and the capital stock or other ownership interests that we own in our subsidiaries to secure the credit facility.Revolver. If a default occurred and was not cured, secured lenders could foreclose on this collateral.

8

Table of Contents

Risks Relating to Our Stock

Our existing shareholders, if acting together, may be able to exert control over matters requiring shareholder approval.

Holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one-twentieth of a vote per share. In addition, holders of our 10% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock, Series A, our 10% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock, Series B and, solely with respect to the election of directors, our 6% Cumulative Voting Preferred Stock, which we refer to as our voting preferred stock, are entitled to one vote per share. As of March 31, 2019,2021, holders of Class B common stock and voting preferred stock held 88.3%88.1% of the combined voting power of all shares of capital stock then outstanding and entitled to vote. These shareholders, if acting together, would be in a position to control the election of our directors and to effect or prevent certain corporate transactions that require majority or supermajority approval of the combined classes, including mergers and other business combinations. This may result in us taking corporate actions that you may not consider to be in your best interest and may affect the price of our common stock.

As of March 31, 2019,2021, our current executive officers and directors beneficially owned 12.4%9.3% of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock, 50.1%44.2% of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock and 53.5%10.8% of our voting preferred stock, or 46.7%29.1% of the combined voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock. This concentration of voting power may inhibit changes in control of the Company and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that discourage corporate takeovers.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and provisions of the New York Business Corporation Law may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control. Various provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may inhibit changes in control not approved by our directors and may have the effect of depriving shareholders of any opportunity to receive a premium over the prevailing market price of our common stock in the event of an attempted unsolicited takeover. In addition, the existence of these provisions may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. These provisions include:

 

a classified board of directors;

 

a requirement that special meetings of shareholders be called only by our directors or holders of 25% of the voting power of all shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting;

 

our board of directors has the power to classify and reclassify any of our unissued shares of capital stock into shares of capital stock with such preferences, rights, powers and restrictions as the board of directors may determine;

 

the affirmative vote of two thirds of the shares present and entitled to vote is required to amend our bylaws or remove a director; and

 

under the New York Business Corporation Law, in addition to certain restrictions which may apply to “business combinations” involving us and an “interested shareholder”, a plan for our merger or consolidation must be approved by two-thirds of the votes of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. See “Our existing shareholders, if acting together, may be able to exert control over matters requiring shareholder approval.” 

9

We dohave not paypaid dividends on our common stock and do not expect to pay common dividends in the future.

past.

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock in more than 25 years and we have no intention to do so in the near future.past. In addition, payment of cash dividends on our common stock is not permitted by the terms of our revolving credit facility.

This policy may be revisited under the correct circumstances in the future.

Other Risks

Tax legislation could impact future cash flows.

The Company uses the Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) method of inventory accounting. As of March 31, 2019,2021, we had a LIFO reserve of $161.3$128.7 million which, at the U.S. corporate tax rate, represents approximately $40.3$32.2 million of income taxes, payment of which is delayed to future dates based upon changes in inventory costs. From time-to-time, discussions regarding changes in U.S. tax laws have included the potential of LIFO being repealed. Should LIFO be repealed, the $40.3$32.2 million of postponed taxes, plus any future benefit realized prior to the date of repeal, would likely have to be repaid over some period of time. Repayment of these postponed taxes will reduce the amount of cash that we would have available to fund our operations, working capital, capital expenditures, expansions, acquisitions or general corporate or other business activities. This could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The tax status of our insurance subsidiary could be challenged resulting in an acceleration of income tax payments.

In conjunction with our workers’ compensation program, we operate a wholly owned insurance subsidiary, Dundee Insurance Company, Inc. We recognize this subsidiary as an insurance company for federal income tax purposes with respect to our consolidated federal income tax return. In the event the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were to determine that this subsidiary does not qualify as an insurance company, we could be required to make accelerated income tax payments to the IRS that we otherwise would have deferred until future periods.

Item 1B
Unresolved Staff Comments
None
 
9
10

Item 1B

Unresolved Staff Comments

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item. 

Item 2

Properties

The following table details the Company’s manufacturing plants and warehouses:

  

Square

     
  

Footage

  

Acres

 
  (000)     

Food Group

        

Nampa, Idaho

  243   16 

Payette, Idaho

  392   43 

Princeville, Illinois

  286   478 

East Bernstadt, Kentucky

  246   15 

Hart, Michigan

  179   92 

Traverse City, Michigan

  58   43 

Blue Earth, Minnesota

  286   350 

Glencoe, Minnesota

  646   1,278 

LeSueur, Minnesota

  82   7 

Montgomery, Minnesota

  549   1,162 

Rochester, Minnesota

  1,070   650 

Geneva, New York

  769   602 

Leicester, New York

  200   91 

Dayton, Oregon

  82   19 

Salem, Oregon

  469   22 

Dayton, Washington

  250   28 

Sunnyside, Washington

  526   54 

Yakima, Washington

  122   8 

Baraboo, Wisconsin

  584   11 

Cambria, Wisconsin

  412   406 

Clyman, Wisconsin

  437   724 

Cumberland, Wisconsin

  389   305 

Gillett, Wisconsin

  324   105 

Janesville, Wisconsin

  1,227   342 

Mayville, Wisconsin

  297   367 

Oakfield, Wisconsin

  229   2,277 

Ripon, Wisconsin

  589   75 
         

Non-Food Group

        

Marion, New York

  6     

Penn Yan, New York

  27   4 
         

Total

  10,976   9,574 

  Square     
  Footage  Acres 
  (000)     
Food Group
        
Nampa, Idaho  243   16 
Payette, Idaho  392   43 
Princeville, Illinois  288   496 
Hart, Michigan  361   78 
Traverse City, Michigan  58   43 
Blue Earth, Minnesota  286   429 
Glencoe, Minnesota  662   798 
LeSueur, Minnesota  82   7 
Montgomery, Minnesota  549   1,644 
Rochester, Minnesota  835   634 
Geneva, New York  769   594 
Leicester, New York  200   91 
Dayton, Oregon  82   19 
Dayton, Washington  250   28 
Yakima, Washington  122   8 
Baraboo, Wisconsin  625   13 
Berlin, Wisconsin  95   125 
Cambria East, Wisconsin  412   406 
Cambria West, Wisconsin  212   305 
Clyman, Wisconsin  438   724 
Cumberland, Wisconsin  400   307 
Gillett, Wisconsin  324   105 
Janesville, Wisconsin  1,228   342 
Mayville, Wisconsin  239   354 
Oakfield, Wisconsin  229   2,277 
Ripon, Wisconsin  634   87 
         
Non-Food Group
        
Marion, New York  6     
Penn Yan, New York  27   4 
Albany, Oregon  75   5 
         
Total  10,123   9,982 
These facilities primarily package various fruit and vegetable products. Most of the facilities are owned by the Company. The Company is a lessee under a number of operating leases and capital leases for equipment and real property mostly used for packaging and warehousing.

The Company believes that these facilities are suitable and adequate for the purposes for which they are currently intended. 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
11

Item 3

Legal Proceedings

See Note 15, "Legal Proceedings and Other Contingencies" to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplemental Data.

See also Item 1, Business -- Environmental Regulation, for information regarding environmental legal proceedings.

Item 4

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

10
12

PART II

Item 5

Market for Registrant’sRegistrants Common Stock, Related Security Holder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

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 20192021 Annual Report, “Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results”Information”, which is incorporated by reference.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

On August 10, 2007, the

The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2007 Equity Plan”) was approved by shareholders at the Company’s annual meeting.meeting on August 10, 2007 and extended on July 28, 2017. The 2007 Equity Plan had an initial 10-year termexpires in August 2027 and originally authorized the issuance of up to 100,000 shares of either Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock or a combination of the two classes of stock. The 2007 Equity Plan was amended and extended for an additional 10-year term at the Company's 2017 annual meeting. 3,1272,297 shares were awarded in fiscal year 20192021 under the terms of the 2007 Equity Plan. As of March 31, 2019,2021, there were 59,11352,752 shares available for distribution as part of future awards under the 2007 Equity Plan. No additional shares have been awarded under the 2007 Equity Plan through the date of this Form 10-K.

The Company maintains an Executive Profit Sharing Bonus Plan, as amended (the “Executive Bonus Plan”), and a Manager Profit Sharing Bonus Plan, as amended (the “Manager Bonus Plan”).  Each plan enables eligible employees to elect to acquire shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock in lieu of the cash bonus compensation payable under such plan.  The number of shares to be issued upon an employee’s valid election is determined at the then current fair market value of such Common Stock.  Each plan authorizes the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock.  As March 31, 2019 there were 496,833 shares available for issuance in lieu of cash compensation under the Executive Bonus Plan and 498,985 shares available under the Manager Bonus Plan. Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(2) provides an exemption from the shareholder approval rules for plans that merely provide a convenient way to purchase shares from the Company at fair market value.  Accordingly, no shareholder approval was required for the Executive Bonus Plan or Manager Bonus Plan.

There are no equity compensation plans not approved by the Company’s shareholders.

Common Stock Performance Graph

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

                    

Maximum Number (or

 
                    

Approximate Dollar

 
  

Total Number of Shares

  

Average Price Paid per

  

Total Number of Shares

  

Value) of Shares that

 
  

Purchased (1)

  

Share

  

Purchased as Part of

  

May Yet Be Purchased

 
  

Class A

  

Class B

  

Class A

  

Class B

  

Publicly Announced

  

Under the Plans or

 

Period

 

Common

  

Common

  

Common

  

Common

  

Plans or Programs (2)

  

Programs (2)

 

1/01/19 - 1/31/19

  45,101  -  $29.86  $-  -     

2/01/19 - 2/28/19

  27,017  40  $29.87  $30.96  -     

3/01/19 - 3/31/19

  14,327  -  $24.36  $-  -     

Total

  86,445  40  $28.96  $30.96  -   880,304 

                      Maximum Number (or 
                      Approximate Dollar 
  Total Number of Shares  Average Price Paid per  Total Number of Shares  Value) of Shares that 
  Purchased (1)  Share  Purchased as Part of  May Yet Be Purchased 
  Class A  Class B  Class A  Class B  Publicly Announced  Under the Plans or 
Period Common  Common  Common  Common  Plans or Programs (2)(3)  Programs (2) 
1/01/21 - 1/31/21  -   -  $-  $-   -     
2/01/21 - 2/29/21  19,500   -  $51.53  $-   -     
3/01/21 - 3/31/21  15,031   -  $58.59  $-   531     
Total  34,531   -  $54.60  $-   531   - 

(1)

No shares were purchased under the Company's share repurchase program. The purchases were made in open market transactions by the Trustees of the Seneca Foods Corporation Employees' Savings Plan, and the Seneca Foods, L.L.C. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to provide matching employee contributions under the Plans.

(2)

In 2012 the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of the Company's stock. The number of shares authorized for repurchase has been increased from time to time, most recently on March 10, 2015 when the repurchase program was increased to 2,500,000 shares. AsDuring 2021, the share repurchase program was terminated. Prior to the termination of March 31, 2019,the program, the Company has purchased 1,619,696did not repurchase any shares and there remains 880,304 shares availablein 2021.

(3)During 2021, the Company launched a tender offer to purchase underfrom its stockholders up to $75 million in value of shares of its Class A common stock. The tender offer resulted in the program.

Company purchase of 531 shares of common stock.

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Table of Contents

0

Item 6

Selected Financial Data

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item.

13

Item 7

Management’sManagements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Refer to the information in the 20192021 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

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item.

Item 8

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Refer to the information in the 20192021 Annual Report, "Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto including Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm," which is incorporated by reference.

Item 9

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of March 31, 2019.2021. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2019,2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures: (1) were designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report was being prepared, so as to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (2) were effective, in that they provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Management’s

Managements Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company’s financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019.2021. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) (2013). Based on our assessment, management believes that, as of March 31, 2019,2021, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The Company’s independent registered public accountant has issued its report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The report appears on the next page.

14
12

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Shareholders

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors

of Seneca Foods Corporation

Marion, New York

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Seneca Foods Corporation’s (the “Company’s”)the internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019,2021 of Seneca Foods Corporation (the “Company”), based on criteria established in Internal Control – IntegratedControl-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”framework”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019,2021, based on criteria established in the COSO criteria.

framework.

We also have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of net earnings, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended March 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”), in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of net earnings (loss), comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended March 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as “the financial statements”) and our. Our report dated June 13, 2019 expressed11, 2021, expresses an unqualified opinion thereon.

opinion.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’sCompany's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Item 9A, Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control overOver Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’scompany's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’scompany's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’scompany's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Plante Moran, P.C.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
Southfield, Michigan
June 13, 2019

11. 2021
13
15

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 20192021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B

Other Information

None.

14
16

PART III

Item 10

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information regarding directors is incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled “Information Concerning Directors” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement (“Proxy Statement”) to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on August 7, 2019.11, 2021. The Proxy Statement will be filed within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

2021.

The information regarding executive officers is incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled “Executive Officers” in the Proxy Statement.

The information if any, regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Proxy Statement.

Information regarding the Company’s code of business conduct and ethics found in the subsection captioned “Available Information” in Item 1 of Part I hereof is also incorporated herein by reference into this Item 10.

The information regarding the Company’s audit committee, its members and the audit committee financial experts is incorporated herein by reference from the subsection entitled “Audit Committee” in the section entitled “Board Governance” in the Proxy Statement.

Item 11

Executive Compensation

The information included under the following captions in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference: “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Summary Compensation Table,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at 20192021 Fiscal Year-End,” “Pension Benefits,” “Compensation of Directors” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks.” The information included under the heading “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference; however, this information shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.

Item 12

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated herein by reference from the sections entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Security Ownership of Management and Directors” in the Proxy Statement.

Item 13

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information regarding transactions with related parties and director independence is incorporated herein by reference from the sections entitled “Independent Directors” and “Certain Transactions and Relationships” in the Proxy Statement.

Item 14

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information regarding principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” in the Proxy Statement.

15
17

PART IV

Item 15

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule

A.

Exhibits, Financial Statements, and Supplemental Schedule

 

1.

Financial Statements - the following consolidated financial statements of the Registrant, included in the 20192021 Annual Report, are incorporated by reference in Item 8:

 

Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings (Loss)  – Years ended March 31, 20192021 and 2018

2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Years ended March 31, 20192021 and 2018

2020

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 20192021 and 2018

2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years ended March 31, 20192021 and 2018

2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – Years ended March 31, 20192021 and 2018

2020

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Years ended March 31, 20192021 and 2018

2020

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 Pages
 

2.

Supplemental Schedule:

 - the following financial statement schedule, included in the 2021 Annual Report, is incorporated by reference in this item 15. 
Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Schedule

18

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

19

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:

Exhibit NumberDescription

 

3.1

 

3.2

 

3.3

 4.1

 

10.1

 

10.2

 

10.3

An amendment dated November 5, 2018 to the Loan and Guaranty Agreement as of December 9, 2016 by and among Seneca Foods Corporation, Seneca Foods, LLC, Seneca Snack Company, Green Valley Foods, LLC and certain other subsidiaries of Seneca Foods Corporation and Farm Credit East, ACA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 29, 2018).

10.4

An amendment dated May 9, 2019 to the Loan and Guaranty Agreement as of December 9, 2016 by and among Seneca Foods Corporation, Seneca Foods, LLC, Seneca Snack Company, and certain other subsidiaries of Seneca Foods Corporation and Farm Credit East, ACA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2019).

10.5

18

 

10.6*

10.4*

 

10.7*

10.5*

16

Table of Contents

 

13

10.6*

10.7*
10.8*
10.9*
13

 

21

 

23

23.1

 

31.1

 

31.2

 

32

 

101

The following materials from Seneca Foods Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019, formatted in

.INS Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) consolidated balance sheets, (ii) consolidated statements of net earnings (loss), (iii) consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), (iv) consolidated statements of cash flows, (v) consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity and (vi) the notes to the consolidated financial statements

Instance Document (filed herewith).

101.1.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith).
101.2.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
101.3.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
101.4.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
101.5.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
104 Cover page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101.*)
* Indicates management or compensatory agreement

Item 16

Form 10-K Summary

None.

17
19

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Seneca Foods Corporation

Marion, New York

The audits referred to in our report dated June 13, 2019 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Seneca Foods Corporation, which is incorporated in Item 8 of Seneca Foods Corporation’s Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019 by reference to the annual report to shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2019 also included the audit of the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule based on our audits.

In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when read in connection with the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 13, 2019

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, 2019:

                    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 $56  $1  $-  $-(a) $57 

Income tax valuation allowance

 $3,865  $6  $117  $-  $3,988 
                     

Year-ended March 31, 2018:

                    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 $50  $33  $-  $(27)(a) $56 

Income tax valuation allowance

 $1,891  $1,396  $601  $(23) $3,865 

(a) Accounts written off, net of recoveries.

19SIGNATURES

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SENECA FOODS CORPORATION

/s/Timothy J. Benjamin

Timothy J. Benjamin 

Timothy J. Benjamin
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer

June 13, 2019

11, 2021

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, 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 DirectorJune 11, 2021
Arthur S. Wolcott

Chairman and Director

June 13, 2019

/s/Kraig H. Kayser

Kraig H. Kayser

President, Chief Executive Officer, Director

June 13, 2019

/s/Timothy J. Benjamin

Timothy J. Benjamin

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

June 13, 2019

/s/Jeffrey L. Van Riper

Jeffrey L. Van Riper

Vice President, Controller, and Secretary

(Principal Accounting Officer) 

June 13, 2019

/s/Kathryn J. Boor

Director

June 13, 2019

Kathryn J. Boor

    
     

/s/Peter R. Call

Paul L. Palmby
 

President, Chief Executive Officer, Director

 

June 13, 2019

11, 2021

Peter R. Call

Paul L. Palmby
    
     

/s/John P. Gaylord 

John P. Gaylord

Timothy J. Benjamin 
 

Director

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
 

June 13, 2019

11, 2021
Timothy J. Benjaminand Treasurer
     

/s/Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr.

Gregory R. Ide
 

Director

Vice President, Controller, and Assistant Secretary
 

June 13, 2019

11, 2021

Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr.

 Gregory R. Ide
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/Kathryn J. BoorDirectorJune 11, 2021
Kathryn J. Boor    
     

/s/Thomas Paulson

Peter R. Call
 

Director

 

June 13, 2019

11, 2021

Thomas Paulson

Peter R. Call
    
     

/s/Susan W. Stuart

John P. Gaylord
 

Director

 

June 13, 2019

11, 2021

Susan W. Stuart

John P. Gaylord
    
     

/s/Keith A. Woodward

Linda K. Nelson
 

Director

 

June 13, 2019

11, 2021

Keith A. Woodward

Linda K. Nelson
    
/s/Michael R. NozzolioDirectorJune 11, 2021
Michael R. Nozzolio
/s/Donald StuartDirectorJune 11, 2021
Donald Stuart
/s/Keith A. WoodwardDirectorJune 11, 2021
Keith A. Woodward

20