<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex9918k111203.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
                                  Exhibit 99.1

November 12, 2003                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                     Contact: Philip Paras, CFO
                                                              (315-926-8100)


PRESS RELEASE

     Seneca Foods Corporation reported net sales for the quarter ended September
27, 2003,  totaling  $248,194,000  versus $183,806,000 for the comparable period
last year.  The current  quarter's  net  earnings  were  $3,910,000  or $.35 per
diluted share,  compared with  $2,090,000 or $.20 per diluted share,  last year.
Prior year  results for the  quarter  and  year-to-date  periods  include  other
expense of $620,000 for a non-cash impairment accrual.

     For the six months ended September 27, 2003, net sales totaled $399,490,000
versus  $307,061,000  for the comparable  period last year. The year-to-date net
earnings were $7,582,000 or $.70 per diluted share as compared with  $4,022,000,
or $.39 per diluted share, last year.

     Seneca Foods Corporation is primarily a vegetable  processing  company with
manufacturing  facilities located throughout the United States. Its products are
sold under the Libby's(R), Aunt Nellie's Farm Kitchen(R), Stokely's(R), READ(R),
and  Seneca(R)  labels as well as  through  the  private  label  and  industrial
markets. In addition,  under an alliance with General Mills Operations,  Inc., a
successor to the  Pillsbury  Company and a subsidiary  of General  Mills,  Inc.,
Seneca  produces canned and frozen  vegetables,  which are sold by General Mills
Operations, Inc. under the Green Giant(R) label. Seneca's common stock is traded
on the Nasdaq National Stock Market under the symbols "SENEA" and "SENEB".

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                                           Seneca Foods Corporation
                                                    Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings

                                               For the Periods Ended September 27, 2003 and 2002
                                                 (In thousands of dollars, except share data)

<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Quarter                      Year-to-Date
                                                                              ---------------------          ---------------------
                                                                              2003             2002          2003             2002
                                                                              ----             ----          ----             ----
<S>                                                                        <C>              <C>            <C>            <C>

Net sales                                                                  $ 248,194        $ 183,806      $ 399,490      $ 307,061
                                                                           =========        =========      =========      =========

Other expense (note 3)                                                     $       -        $    (620)     $        -     $    (620)
                                                                           =========        =========      ==========     =========

Earnings before income taxes                                               $   6,409        $   3,319      $   12,429     $   6,593

Income taxes                                                                   2,499            1,229           4,847         2,571
                                                                           ---------        ---------      ----------     ---------

Net earnings                                                               $   3,910        $   2,090      $    7,582     $   4,022
                                                                           =========        =========      ==========     =========

Basic earnings per share                                                   $    0.35        $    0.21      $    0.70      $    0.39
                                                                           =========        =========      ==========     =========

Diluted earnings per share                                                 $    0.35        $    0.20      $    0.70      $    0.39
                                                                           =========        =========      ==========     =========

Weighted average shares outstanding basic                                 11,125,723       10,158,077      10,803,142    10,158,029
                                                                          ==========       ==========      ==========    ==========

Weighted average shares outstanding diluted                               11,193,113       10,225,467      10,870,532    10,225,419
                                                                          ==========       ==========      ==========    ==========
<FN>
Note 1: The basic earnings per share includes the effect of redeemable preferred convertible shares.
        The diluted earnings per share includes the effect of other convertible shares.
Note 2: Results include the Chiquita Processed Foods, L.L.C. operations from the date
        of acquisition, May 27, 2003 (four months).
Note 3: Other expense in the prior period is an impairment loss.
</FN>
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</TABLE>


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
