2000s

During this decade, Seneca is committed to remaining an independent, publicly traded company and to meet the quality, service and cost expectations of our customers across America and around the world. With modern plants and a strong balance sheet, Seneca is well positioned to pursue strategic business opportunities and to continue our tradition of surviving and succeeding in a rapidly consolidating industry.

In May 2007, Seneca Snack Company (a wholly subsidiary of Seneca Foods Corporation that makes apple and potato chips) acquired the vacuum frying assets of Tastee Apple, Inc. Based in Newcomerstown, Ohio, Tastee is best known for its caramel and chocolate covered apples, in addition to its apple cider business.
In August 2006, Seneca acquired 100% of the membership interests of Signature Fruit Company, LLC, based in Modesto, California. Signature Fruit Company is a leading processor of shelf stable fruit products, including peaches, pears, apricots, fruit cocktail, mixed fruit and fruit salad and nectars and concentrates. The acquisition will allow Seneca to add a full line of canned fruits to its product offerings.
In May 2003, Seneca completed the second largest acquisition in its history by acquiring 12 plants from Chiquita Brands, Inc. Included in the acquisition was a substantial private label retail, foodservice, export and branded business. The brands include Stokely's^®, Read^®, Festal^®, Tendersweet^®, Walla Walla^® and Diamond A^®. Seneca subsequently spun off four plants to Lakeside Foods. This acquisition brought the total number of plant locations at Seneca to 25.
In 2000, Seneca Foods Corporation celebrated its Golden Anniversary marking our first 50 years of dedication to our consumers.
Acquired Agrilink's Midwest private label canned vegetable business. This transaction also included the purchase of the Arlington, Minnesota facility.

1990

1990's

Through further acquisitions and internal growth, Seneca has become the world's largest processor of canned vegetables. At the end of the decade we further strengthened our financial base by selling our juice operations and raising additional capital with a shareholder rights offering.

Acquired several name brands including Treesweet^®, Orange Plus^®, and Awake^® juice brands and Blue Boy^®, Aunt Nellie's^® and Lohmann^® vegetable brands.
Expanded sales to global markets with the acquisition of an apple chip business.
Acquired six vegetable plants from Pillsbury and entered into an alliance with them to manufacture products for the Green Giant label.
Acquired a maraschino cherry and glace fruit business.
Divested our applesauce and juice operations to focus resources on our core vegetable business.
Acquired the rights to market a full range of Libby canned fruits, vegetables, pastas and baked bean products to over 30 countries around the world.
Expanded Seneca Flight Operations by becoming the fixed based operator at Yates County Airport, adding management aircraft, and building a state of the art hanger complex.

1980

1980's

A decade of both growth and consolidation as we sold our food distribution business and several of our non-food operations.

Our Corporate name was changed back to Seneca Foods Corporation.
Acquisitions included the Libby canned vegetable business which gave Seneca a strong vegetable brand and six additional processing plants.
Rolled out the first natural frozen grape juice and expanded our juice line with white grape, cranberry and cranberry blends.
Advertised our juices nationally using Marion Ross, actress from TV's "Happy Days".
Entered the private label retail and food service vegetable business in the Midwest.
Began producing IQF frozen vegetables for the foodservice and industrial markets.

1970

1970's

The 1970's was a period of rapid growth and diversification as we acquired companies in the food distribution, canned vegetable, glass, paint and textile businesses. Through one of these acquisitions, Julius G. (Chuck) Kayser joined Seneca and played a key role in our growth until his death in 1988.

Our corporate name was changed to S.S. Pierce Company.
A non-food group was added through the acquisition of Tapetex (textiles), Lehman Bros. (paint), and Castle Hansen (glass).
Acquisition of the S.S. Pierce Company (including its subsidiaries - Lincoln Foods, Kennett Canning Co. and Stateline Potato Chip Co.) took place. S.S. Pierce was a leading New England food service distributor as well as a rectifier, bottler and distributor of wines and spirits.
Another acquisition that took place during this period was the purchase of Marion Canning which marked our entry into vegetable processing.
An apple processing plant in Mountain Home, North Carolina, was also purchased.
During the 1970's we increased our canned vegetable business with retail and food service customers through the acquisition of Fruit Belt Preserving Co., Seneca Kraut, and Perfection Foods.
We began the production of metal cans for both our juice and vegetable products.

1960

1960's

During the 1960's we continued to expand with new plants and new products including the introduction of the first frozen apple juice concentrate under our Seneca Brand.

Our corporate name was changed from Seneca Grape Juice Company to Seneca Foods Corporation.
During this timeframe, the Prosser, Washington plant was opened for the production of applesauce and fruit juices.
The Highland and Westfield, New York plants were consolidated into an expanded Dundee plant.
We continued to add brokers and expand distribution throughout the country to grow our branded business.
Our first advertisement on popular network TV shows and other media in support of Seneca frozen concentrated apple juice took place.
Acquisitions included Boordy Vineyards when we began making quality wine.
The introduction of Vitamin C enriched apple juice - a first in the industry!
Seneca Stock began trading in the over-the-counter market.

1950

1950's

The decade of the 1950's was marked with slow but steady expansion and long hours as we grew internally and through acquisitions.

In the 1950's, we contracted with Minute Maid to co-pack the first frozen grape juice in the nation.
Acquisitions included Hudson Valley Pure Food Co., Hilton Fruit Co-op, North Wayne Co-op and Westfield Maid Co-op, all located in New York State. We then added apple processing, fountain fruits and syrups, and maraschino cherries to our product line.
Development of private label, bulk, industrial and co-pack segments of our business took place during this time.
Fruit processing remained our primary focus for the next several decades.