Exhibit 23.1


            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We  consent to the  reference  to our firm under the  caption  "Experts"  in the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-3 No.  333-117491)  and related  Prospectus  of
Seneca  Foods  Corporation  for  the  registration  of  967,742  shares  of  its
Convertible Preferred Stock Series 2003 and 967,742 shares of its Class A Common
Stock and to the  incorporation by reference therein of our report dated May 26,
2004 with  respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements  of Seneca  Foods
Corporation  incorporated  by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended March 31, 2004 and of our report  dated June 11, 2004 with respect to
the  related  financial  statement  schedule  included  therein,  filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                     /s/Ernst & Young LLP

Buffalo, New York
August 31, 2004