SENECA FOODS CORP /NY/
10-Q/A, 1997-11-17
CANNED, FRUITS, VEG, PRESERVES, JAMS & JELLIES
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                                   FORM 10-Q/A

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549


                   QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OF 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



     For the Quarter Ended SEPTEMBER 27, 1997 Commission File Number 0-1989

                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

              1162 PITTSFORD-VICTOR ROAD, PITTSFORD, NEW YORK 14534
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code          716/385-9500


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
               Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report

Check mark indicates whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 of 15(d) of the  Securities 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


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

                  CLASS SHARES OUTSTANDING AT OCTOBER 31, 1997

  Common Stock Class A, $.25 Par                                3,143,125
  Common Stock Class B, $.25 Par                                2,796,555


<PAGE>


Item 6.               EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

                      (a) Exhibit 4 - (4a) Instrument defining the rights of any
                      holder  of   Long-Term   Debt   related   to  the   Master
                      Reimbursement   Agreement   and   between   SENECA   FOODS
                      CORPORATION and GENERAL ELECTRIC  CAPITAL  CORPORATION  
                      dated  September  15, 1997 incorporated by reference to 
                      the Registrant's 10-Q filed November 10, 1997.

                      (b) Exhibit 4 - (4b) Instrument defining the rights of any
                      holder of Long-Term  Debt related to the Credit  Agreement
                      by and among SENECA FOODS CORPORATION, THE BANKS SIGNATORY
                      THERETO AND THE CHASE  MANHATTAN  BANK AS AGENT as amended
                      and restated as of September 24, 1997 and filed herewith.


                      (c) Exhibit 4 - (4c) Instrument defining the rights of any
                      holder of Long-Term Debt related to the Senior  Promissory
                      Notes by and among SENECA FOODS CORPORATION,  JOHN HANCOCK
                      MUTUAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY  AND  COBANK,  ACB  filed
                      herewith.


                      (d) Exhibit 11 - (11)  Computation  of earnings  per share
                      incorporated by reference to the Registrant's 10-Q filed
                      November 10, 1997.

                      (e)   Exhibit   27  -  (27)   Financial   Data   Schedules
                      incorporated by reference to the Registrant's 10-Q filed
                      November 10, 1997.

                      (f) Reports on Form 8-K - two 8-K's were filed during July
                      1997, which related to the two acquisitions during this
                      year.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


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





                                                    SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
                                                          (Registrant)



                                                       /S/KRAIG H. KAYSER

November 14, 1997                                      Kraig H. Kayser
                                                       President and
                                                       Chief Executive Officer


                                                       /S/JEFFREY L. VAN RIPER

November 14, 1997                                      Jeffrey L. Van Riper
                                                       Controller and
                                                       Chief Accounting Officer


<PAGE>




                                                  
                                   Exhibit 4b







                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 1997

                                      AMONG

                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION

                           THE BANKS SIGNATORY HERETO

                                       AND

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                    AS AGENT


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



<PAGE>




        AMENDED AND RESTATED  CREDIT  AGREEMENT  dated as of September  24, 1997
among SENECA FOODS  CORPORATION,  a corporation  organized under the laws of New
York  (the  "Borrower"),   each  of  the  banks  which  is  a  signatory  hereto
(individually  a "Bank" and  collectively  the "Banks") and THE CHASE  MANHATTAN
BANK, a banking  corporation  organized under the laws of the State of New York,
as agent for the Banks (in such  capacity,  together with its successors in such
capacity, the "Agent").

        The Borrower,  Banks, and the Agent have entered into a Credit Agreement
dated as of February 23, 1995, Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of May 1, 1995,
Amendment No. 2 thereto,  dated as of November 13, 1995, Amendment No. 3 thereto
dated as of December 28,  1995,  Amendment  No. 4 thereto  dated as of March 20,
1996,  Amendment No. 5 thereto dated as of September 20, 1996, and Amendment No.
6 thereto dated as of December 10, 1996. (As so amended,  such Credit  Agreement
is herein referred to as the "Credit Agreement".)

        The Borrower desires that the Banks extend credit as provided herein and
the Banks are prepared to extend such credit.  Accordingly,  the  Borrower,  the
Banks and the Agent agree that the Credit  Agreement  is further  amended and is
restated  in its  entirety,  so that,  upon this  Amended  and  Restated  Credit
Agreement  becoming  effective,  it shall  replace the Credit  Agreement and the
promissory  notes issued  thereunder  which shall  thereupon  cease to be of any
force or effect.  All Loans and other amounts and obligations  outstanding under
the  Credit  Agreement  and  the  promissory   notes  issued   thereunder  shall
automatically  become  Loans,  amounts and  obligations  under this  Amended and
Restated Credit  Agreement (and the Notes issued  hereunder),  upon its becoming
effective.  In addition,  all consents  and/or waivers  executed by the Required
Banks  prior to the date  hereof  shall  cease to have any force or effect  with
respect to events  occurring  after the date on which this  Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement becomes effective.


                    ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING TERMS.

        Section 1.01.  DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement the following terms have the following  meanings (terms defined in the
singular to have a correlative meaning when used in the plural and VICE VERSA):

        "$15,000,000 Financing" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(B).

        "$15,000,000 Loan Documents" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10
(B).

        "ABN  LOC's"  means the  letters of credit  issued  pursuant  to the ABN
Reimbursement  Agreements by ABN Amro Bank, N.V. to the trustees for the holders
of the Secured  Bonds to support  payments of principal  of, and interest on the
Secured Bonds and the purchase price of Secured Bonds tendered or required to be
tendered.

        "ABN  Reimbursement  Agreements" shall mean the following  Reimbursement
Agreements  between  Borrower and ABN AMRO Bank N. V. setting  forth  Borrower's
reimbursement  obligations  related to the ABN LOC's:  Wayne  County  Industrial
Development Agency Industrial  Development Refunding Revenue Bonds (Seneca Foods
Corporation  Project) Series 1992; Ontario County Industrial  Development Agency
Industrial   Development  Refunding  Revenue  Bonds  (Seneca  Foods  Corporation
Project)  Series 1992;  City of  Janesville,  Wisconsin  Industrial  Development
Agency Industrial  Development Refunding Revenue Bonds (Seneca Foods Corporation
Project) Series 1992; City of Rochester, Minnesota Industrial Development Agency
Industrial   Development  Refunding  Revenue  Bonds  (Seneca  Foods  Corporation
Project) Series 1992; all as the same may be amended from time to time.

        "Absolute  Rate"  shall mean an  interest  rate  (rounded to the nearest
 .0001) expressed as a decimal.

        "Absolute Rate Loan" shall mean a Competitive Bid Loan with respect to
which the Borrower has requested that the Banks offer to make  Competitive Bid
Loans at Absolute Rates.

        "Affiliate" means any Person: (a) which directly or indirectly controls,
or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries; (b) which directly or indirectly beneficially owns or holds 10% or
more of any class of voting  stock of the Borrower or any such  Subsidiary;  (c)
10% or more of the voting stock of which is directly or indirectly  beneficially
owned or held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary;  or (d) which is a partnership
in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.  The term
"control" means the possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power to direct
or cause the  direction  of the  management  and  policies of a Person,  whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

        "Agent" shall mean The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  and any successor  Agent
appointed pursuant to SECTION 10.09.

        "Agreement"  means  this  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  as
amended,  restated or  supplemented  from time to time.  References to Articles,
Sections,  Exhibits,  Schedules  and the like refer to the  Articles,  Sections,
Exhibits, Schedules and the like of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

        "Alliance  Inventory  Sale" means,  with respect to Green Giant finished
goods inventory  packed for the purpose of sale to Pillsbury under the Pillsbury
Alliance  Agreement,  a sale by Borrower of such inventory to a buyer other than
Pillsbury (which buyer may include Parom, L.L.C. or another designee of RaboBank
Nederland,  in a transaction  pursuant to an inventory purchase commitment dated
April 14, 1997) that meets all of the following conditions:

        (a) The purchase price of the inventory sold to such buyer shall consist
of the  Transfer  Price as defined in the  Pillsbury  Alliance  Agreement  (i.e.
Borrowers'  fully  allocated  cost per unit  plus a $.10 per case  tolling  fee)
multiplied  by the  number of  Equivalent  Cases (as  defined  in the  Pillsbury
Alliance  Agreement) of the inventory sold. Each sale must ultimately  match the
amount  of cash flow  that  would  have been  realized  to the  Borrower  if the
inventory had been sold directly to Pillsbury pursuant to the Pillsbury Alliance
Agreement.

        (b) Each sale must  qualify as a sale of the  inventory to the buyer and
thus must qualify for off balance sheet accounting treatment whereby the sale of
the  inventory  will be recognized  and the  inventory  will be removed from the
Borrower's  balance  sheet.  All risk of loss must  pass to the  buyer  upon the
closing of such sale, and the buyer must  adequately  insure against any risk of
loss with respect to the inventory purchased. Each such sale must not require of
Borrower any greater warranty obligations with respect to the inventory than the
obligations  to which the Borrower  would be subject if the  inventory  had been
sold to Pillsbury pursuant to the Pillsbury Alliance Agreement, nor may any such
sale  create or provide  for any rights or  recourse  against  the  Borrower  if
Pillsbury  or another  Person  does not take or pay for the  inventory  from the
buyer.

        (c) The buyer must agree with Pillsbury that the inventory to be sold by
the  Borrower to the buyer will be sold to  Pillsbury  at prices  based upon the
original  purchase  price from  Borrower  plus a provision for the cost of money
over the period in which the inventory is held by the buyer.

        (d) In connection with each such sale,  Borrower may agree to act as the
agent of the buyer such that the  Borrower  will,  on behalf of and as agent for
the buyer,  warehouse the purchased  inventory and  distribute it to and invoice
Pillsbury for the inventory, as agreed between Pillsbury and the buyer. Borrower
must not be required to repurchase any of the inventory  purchased by the buyer,
guarantee  sales prices or provide price supports for such inventory or agree to
cover any revenue shortfalls of the buyer with respect to such inventory.

        (e)     On and as of the date of the sale, and after giving effect
thereto,  no event shall have occurred and be  continuing  that  constitutes a
Default or Event of Default.

        (f) All  consents  or waivers  that are  required,  under the  Pillsbury
Documents, the Insurance Company Loan Documents, the $15,000,000 Loan Documents,
the ABN Reimbursement  Agreements,  the GE Capital Reimbursement  Agreement, any
other  Facility  Document,  or any other  law,  rule,  regulation  agreement  or
instrument, in order to permit such sale, shall have been obtained.

        (g)     Such sale will not result in the creation of either a Debt of
the Borrower or a Lien against Borrower or any of Borrower's assets.

        (h) The Agent shall have received,  in each case  immediately upon their
becoming  effective,  a copy of the definitive  documents  between and among the
Borrower and the other parties involved in such sale,  including but not limited
to: (i) all  agreements to which the Borrower's a party or by which it is bound,
between the Borrower  and  Pillsbury  and between  Borrower and the buyer of the
inventory;  and (ii) any amendments to or consents  required under the Pillsbury
Documents, the Insurance Company Loan Documents, the $15,000,000 Loan Documents,
the ABN Reimbursement  Agreements,  the GE Capital Reimbursement  Agreement, and
any other Facility document.

        (i)  Borrower  must  utilize the  proceeds of any such sale,  net of the
reasonable  expenses  incurred  by  Borrower  in  consummating  such  sale,  for
repayment of the Loans.  Such  repayment  shall be made not later than five days
after Borrower's receipt of any such net proceeds,  provided,  however,  that if
Borrower  desires to repay one or more Fixed Rate Loans with such net  proceeds,
Borrower  shall not be required to make a  prepayment  of Fixed Rate Loans under
such  circumstances  as would  require the Borrower to pay  compensation  to the
Banks  pursuant to SECTION  3.05(A),  but shall use such net  proceeds to prepay
such Loans as soon as it is able to do so  without  being  required  to pay such
compensation.

        "Authorization  Letter"  means  the  letter  agreement  executed  by the
Borrower pursuant to SECTION 4.01(B) in the form of EXHIBIT 4.01(B).

        "Bank" and "Banks"  shall  include each of the Banks which is a party to
this Agreement and any successors and/or assignees pursuant to SECTION 11.05.

        "Bank Cleandown" shall have the meaning given such term in SECTION 2.15.

        "Banking Day" means any day on which commercial banks are not authorized
or required to close in New York City and Chicago, and whenever such day relates
to a  Eurodollar  Loan or notice with respect to any  Eurodollar  Loan, a day on
which dealings in Dollar  deposits are also carried out in the London  interbank
market.

        "Borrower  Cleandown"  shall have the meaning given such term in SECTION
2.15.

        "Borrowing"  means the  incurrence  of one or more Loans of the same
type from one or more Banks on the same day and, in the case of Loans having an
Interest Period, having the same Interest Period.

        "Borrowing  Base" shall mean, as at any date,  the sum of (a) 70% of the
aggregate  amount  of  Eligible  Receivables  at said  date  plus (b) 40% of the
aggregate value of Eligible Inventory at said date, provided,  that for purposes
of the  Borrowing  Base as of the last day of each April,  May,  June,  July and
August, the Eligible Inventory  percentage shall be 50%. The "value" of Eligible
Inventory  shall be determined at the lower of cost or market in accordance with
GAAP, except that cost shall be determined on a first-in-first-out basis.

        "Borrowing Base Certificate" shall mean a certificate of a Financial
 Officer of the Borrower,  substantially in the form of EXHIBIT 6.08(L) and
 appropriately completed.

        "Capital  Lease" means any lease which has been or should be capitalized
on the books of the lessee in accordance with GAAP.


        "Cayman" means Signature 1A (Cayman),  Ltd., by John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Company, Portfolio Advisor (together with any transferee, successor or
assigns).

        "Closing  Date" means the date this  Agreement  has been executed by the
Borrower, the Banks and the Agent.

        "CoBank" means CoBank, ACB.

        "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.

        "Commitment"  means,  with respect to each Bank,  the obligation of such
Bank to make its  Eurodollar  and  Variable  Rate Loans  under  this  Agreement,
through and  including  November 30, 1997,  in the  aggregate  principal  amount
following,  as such  amount may be reduced or  otherwise  modified  from time to
time:

        The Chase Manhattan Bank:                      $ 32,500,000;
        Fleet Bank:                                    $ 30,000,000;
        Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company:         $ 25,000,000;
        Harris Trust and Savings Bank:                 $ 25,000,000;
        Rabobank Nederland:                            $ 10,000,000;
        The Sumitomo Bank, Limited:                    $ 10,000,000;
        National Bank of Canada:                       $ 10,000,000;
        The Fuji Bank, Ltd.:                           $  7,500,000;
                                                       -------------

        Total:                                         $150,000,000.

        As of December 1, 1997,  "Commitment"  means, with respect to each Bank,
the obligation of such Bank to make its Eurodollar and Variable Rate Loans under
this Agreement in the aggregate  principal amount following,  as such amount may
be reduced or otherwise modified from time to time:

        The Chase Manhattan Bank:                      $ 28,165,000;
        Fleet Bank:                                    $ 26,000,000;
        Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company:         $ 21,667,000;
        Harris Trust and Savings Bank:                 $ 21,667,000;
        Rabobank Nederland:                            $  8,667,000;
        The Sumitomo Bank, Limited:                    $  8,667,000;
        National Bank of Canada:                       $  8,667,000;
        The Fuji Bank, Ltd:                            $  6,500,000;
                                                       ------------

        Total:                                         $130,000,000.

Provided,  however,  that the Commitment of each Bank may be reduced temporarily
each calendar year, pro rata in accordance with SECTION 2.15.

        "Competitive Bid Loan" shall have the meaning given such term in SECTION
2.13.

        "Competitive Bid Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower in the
form of EXHIBIT 2.02B, executed pursuant to SECTION 2.02 and evidencing
Competitive Bid Loans made by a Bank hereunder.

        "Consent and Agreement" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10.

        "Consolidated  Current  Assets" means Current Assets of the Borrower and
its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as  determined  on  a  consolidated  basis  in
accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated  Current  Liabilities"  means Current  Liabilities  of the
Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as determined  on a  consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated EBITDA" shall mean, for any fiscal period of the Borrower,
an amount equal to (A) the sum for such fiscal period of Consolidated Net Income
(Loss) and, to the extent subtracted in determining such Consolidated Net Income
(Loss),  provisions for (i) taxes based on income,  (ii) Interest  Expense,  and
(iii) depreciation and amortization expense minus (B) any items of gain (or plus
any items of loss) which were  included in  determining  such  Consolidated  Net
Income  (Loss) and were (x) not  realized  in the  ordinary  course of  business
(whether  or not  classified  as  "ordinary"  by GAAP),  or (y)  resulting  from
minority  investments plus (C) $15,078,000 for the non-recurring  write-off that
occurred in the second Fiscal Quarter of 1996 plus (D)  $4,279,000  capital gain
on the sale of the  Peabody  property  located in  Peabody,  Massachusetts  that
occurred in second Fiscal Quarter of 1996.

        "Consolidated  Funded  Debt" means  Funded Debt of the  Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.

        "Consolidated  Net Income  (Loss)" shall mean,  for any fiscal period of
the  Borrower,  the  Consolidated  net income (or loss) of the  Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries for such period (taken as a single accounting period)
determined  in  conformity  with GAAP,  but  excluding  therefrom (to the extent
otherwise  included therein) (i) any gains or losses,  together with any related
provision for taxes, realized upon any sale of assets other than in the ordinary
course of business  and (ii) any income or loss of any Person  accrued  prior to
the date such Person  becomes a Subsidiary  of the Borrower or is merged into or
consolidated  with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or all or substantially all of
such Person's assets are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

        "Consolidated  Subsidiary"  means any Subsidiary  whose accounts are or
are required to be  consolidated  with the accounts of the Borrower in
accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated  Tangible  Net  Worth"  means  Tangible  Net  Worth of the
Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as determined  on a  consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated  Total  Liabilities"  means the total  liabilities  of the
Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as determined  on a  consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Current  Assets"  means all assets of the  Borrower  treated as current
assets in accordance with GAAP.

        "Current  Liabilities"  means all liabilities of the Borrower treated as
current  liabilities in accordance with GAAP,  including without  limitation (a)
all obligations payable on demand or within one year after the date in which the
determination is made and (b) installment and sinking fund payments  required to
be made within one year after the date on which the  determination  is made, but
excluding all such liabilities or obligations  which are renewable or extendable
at the  option  of the  Borrower  to a date  more than one year from the date of
determination;  provided,  however,  that Current  Liabilities shall include the
outstanding principal balance of all Loans.

        "Debt"  means,  with  respect to any Person:  (a)  indebtedness  of such
Person for borrowed money; (b)  indebtedness for the deferred  purchase price of
property or services (except trade payables in the ordinary course of business);
(c)  Unfunded  Benefit  Liabilities  of such  Person (if such  Person is not the
Borrower,  determined  in a manner  analogous  to that of  determining  Unfunded
Benefit Liabilities of the Borrower); (d) the amount available for drawing under
any outstanding standby letters of credit issued for the account of such Person,
less the  principal  amount of any other Debt secured by such letters of credit;
(e)   obligations   arising  under   acceptance   facilities;   (f)  guaranties,
endorsements  (other than for collection in the ordinary course of business) and
other  contingent  obligations  to purchase,  to provide  funds for payment,  to
supply funds to invest in any Person,  or otherwise to assure a creditor against
loss; (g)  obligations  secured by any Lien on property of such Person;  and (h)
obligations of such Person as lessee under Capital Leases.

        "Default"  means any event  which  with the giving of notice or lapse of
time, or both, would become an Event of Default.

        "Default Rate" means,  with respect to the principal of any Loan and, to
the extent permitted by law, any other amount payable by the Borrower under this
Agreement or any Note that is not paid when due (whether at stated maturity,  by
acceleration  or  otherwise),  a rate  per  annum  during  the  period  from and
including the due date,  to, but excluding the date on which such amount is paid
in full equal to 1% above the Variable  Rate as in effect from time to time plus
the Margin (if any) (provided  that, if the amount so in default is principal of
a Fixed  Rate Loan and the due date  thereof is a day other than the last day of
the Interest  Period  therefor,  the "Default Rate" for such principal shall be,
for the period from and including the due date and to but excluding the last day
of the Interest  Period  therefor,  2% above the interest  rate for such Loan as
provided in SECTION 2.10 hereof and, thereafter,  the rate provided for above in
this definition).

        "Dollars" and the sign "$" mean lawful money of the United States of
America.

        "Eligible  Inventory" shall mean, as at any date, all inventory owned by
the Borrower that is required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

        "Eligible  Receivables" shall mean, as at any date, the aggregate amount
of all  receivables  owned by the Borrower (net of bad debt  reserves)  that are
required to be reflected  on a  consolidated  balance  sheet of Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

        "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and foreign
statutes,  laws, regulations,  ordinances,  rules,  judgments,  orders, decrees,
permits,  concessions,   grants,  franchises,   licenses,  agreements  or  other
governmental   restrictions   relating  to  the  environment  or  to  emissions,
discharges,  releases  or  threatened  releases  of  pollutants,   contaminants,
chemicals,  or  industrial,  toxic or  hazardous  substances  or wastes into the
environment  including,  without limitation,  ambient air, surface water, ground
water,  or  land,  or  otherwise   relating  to  the   manufacture,   processing
distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport,  or handling of
pollutants,   contaminants,   chemicals,  or  industrial,   toxic  or  hazardous
substances or wastes.

        "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as
amended  from time to time,  including  any rules  and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder.

        "ERISA  Affiliate" means any corporation or trade or business which is a
member of any group of  organizations  (i) described in Section 414(b) or (c) of
the Code of which the  Borrower  is a member,  or (ii)  solely for  purposes  of
potential  liability under Section 302(c)(11) of ERISA and Section 412(c)(11) of
the Code and the lien created under Section  302(f) of ERISA and Section  412(n)
of the  Code,  described  in  Section  414(m)  or (o) of the Code of  which  the
Borrower is a member.

        "Eurodollar  Loan" means any Loan,  other than a Spread Loan,  when and
to the extent the interest rate therefor is determined on the basis of the
Eurodollar Rate.

        "Eurodollar  Rate" means,  for any  Eurodollar  Loan, and for any Spread
Loan whose  Interest Rate Basis is a Eurodollar  Rate,  for any Interest  Period
therefor, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary,  to the nearest 1/100
of 1%) determined by the Agent to be equal to the quotient of (i) the Fixed Base
Rate for such  Loan for such  Interest  Period,  divided  by (ii) one  minus the
Reserve Requirement for such Loan for such Interest Period.

        "Event of Default" has the meaning given such term in SECTION 9.01.

        "Facility  Documents"  means this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the  Security
Agreement,  the Intercreditor  Agreement, the Pillsbury Subordination Agreement,
the ss. 1111(b) Agreement,  the Consent and Agreement, the Authorization Letter,
and any  amendments to any of the foregoing  that may hereafter be executed from
time to time.

        "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the
weighted  average  of the  rates on  overnight  federal  funds  transactions  as
published  by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York for such day (or for any day
that is not a Banking Day, for the immediately preceding Banking Day).

        "Financial Officer" shall mean any of the chief executive officer,  vice
president, finance or chief accounting officer.

        "Fiscal  Quarter"  means the  approximately  13-week  period ending on a
Saturday  near  the  end of  June,  September  and  December  of each  year,  as
established by the Borrower,  and the period  beginning on the day following the
last day of each December Fiscal Quarter and ending on the next March 31.

        "Fiscal Year" means the twelve month period  beginning  each April 1 and
ending the following March 31.

        "Fixed  Base Rate"  means,  with  respect to any  Interest  Period for a
Borrowing of Eurodollar  Loans or of Spread Loans whose Interest Rate Basis is a
Eurodollar  Rate,  the rate per annum  (rounded  upwards,  if necessary,  to the
nearest  1/16 of 1%)  quoted at  approximately  11:00  a.m.  London  time by the
principal  London  branch of the  Reference  Bank two Banking  Days prior to the
first day of such  Interest  Period for the  offering  to  leading  banks in the
London interbank  market of Dollar deposits in immediately  available funds, (a)
in the case of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, for a period,  and in an amount,
comparable to the Interest  Period and principal  amount of the Eurodollar  Loan
which shall be made by such Reference Bank and outstanding  during such Interest
Period,  and  (b) in the  case of a  Borrowing  of  Spread  Loans  based  on the
Eurodollar  Rate, for a period  comparable to the Interest Period of such Spread
Loans and in an amount obtained by dividing the Reference  Bank's  Commitment by
the total  amount of all  Commitments  and  multiplying  the same by the maximum
aggregate amount of all of such Spread Loans having that Interest Period.

        "Fixed Rate Loan" means any Eurodollar or Competitive Bid Loan.

        "Forfeiture  Proceeding"  means any action,  proceeding or investigation
affecting  the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or  Affiliates  before any
court,   governmental   department,   commission,   board,  bureau,   agency  or
instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or the receipt of notice by any such party
that any of them is a suspect  in or a target  of any  governmental  inquiry  or
investigation,  which may result in an  indictment of any of them or the seizure
or forfeiture  of any of their  property  which could  reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

        "Funded Debt" means, with respect to any Person, all Debt of such Person
for money  borrowed  which by its terms matures more than one year from the date
as of which such Funded Debt is incurred,  and any Debt of such Person for money
borrowed  maturing  within  one  year  from  such  date  which is  renewable  or
extendable at the option of the obligor to a date beyond one year from such date
(whether  or  not   theretofore   renewed  or  extended),   including  any  such
indebtedness  renewable or  extendable  at the option of the obligor  under,  or
payable from the proceeds of other  indebtedness  which may be incurred pursuant
to, the provisions of any revolving credit agreement or other similar agreement.

        "GAAP" means  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in the United
States of America as in effect from time to time,  applied on a basis consistent
with those used in the  preparation of the financial  statements  referred to in
SECTION 5.05  (except for changes  concurred  in by the  Borrower's  independent
public accountants).

        "GE  Capital"  means  General  Electric  Capital   Corporation  and  its
successors and assigns as a party to the GE Capital Reimbursement Agreement.

        "GE Capital  Liens"  means Liens  against  the Secured  Bond  Collateral
granted to GE Capital,  pursuant to the GE Capital Reimbursement  Agreement,  to
secure Borrower's  obligations to GE Capital under the GE Capital  Reimbursement
Agreement.

        "GE Capital LOC's" means letters of credit issued by  BankBoston,  N.A.,
at the request of GE  Capital,  to the  trustees  for the holders of the Secured
Bonds to support  payments of principal of and interest on the Secured Bonds and
the purchase price of Secured Bonds tendered or required to be tendered.

        "GE  Capital  Reimbursement  Agreement"  means the Master  Reimbursement
Agreement and the related Letter of Credit Agreement, each dated as of September
15, 1997 among Borrower,  GE Capital, and BankBoston,  N.A. (copies of which are
attached as EXHIBIT  5.10(G))  pursuant to which (a) GE Capital  agreed to cause
BankBoston,  N.A. to issue the GE Capital LOC's in replacement of the ABN LOC's,
(b)  the  Borrower  agreed  to  reimburse  GE  Capital  for  any   reimbursement
obligations of GE Capital to BankBoston,  N.A. related to the issuance of the GE
Capital  LOC's and (c) the  Borrower  agreed to reimburse  BankBoston,  N.A. for
draws  against  GE  Capital  LOC's  for  which GE  Capital  fails  to  reimburse
BankBoston, N.A..

        "Hazardous Materials" means any waste or other substance that is listed,
defined, designated, or classified as, or otherwise determined to be, hazardous,
radioactive, harmful or toxic or a pollutant or contaminant under or pursuant to
any  Environmental  Law,   including  any  mixture  or  solution  thereof,   and
specifically  including  petroleum  and all  derivatives  thereof  or  synthetic
substitutes therefor and asbestos or asbestos-containing materials.

"Insurance Company Financing" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(A).

"Insurance Company Loan Documents" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(A).

"Insurance Company Note Agreement" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(A).

"Intercreditor Agreement" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(D).

        "Interest Expense" shall mean, for any period, the sum, for the Borrower
and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries  (determined on a consolidated  basis without
duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following:

                (a) all  interest  in  respect of Debt  accrued  or  capitalized
during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period), minus

                (b) all interest income during such period.

        "Interest Period" means, with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the period
commencing on the date such Loan is made, converted from another type of Loan or
renewed,  as the case may be, and ending, as the Borrower may select pursuant to
SECTION 2.06 or SECTION  2.13, as the case may be: (a) in the case of Eurodollar
Loans and  Competitive Bid Loans having the Eurodollar Rate as the Interest Rate
Basis,  on the numerically  corresponding  day in the first,  second,  third, or
sixth calendar month  thereafter,  provided that each such Interest Period which
commences on the last  Banking Day of a calendar  month (or on any day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar
month) shall end on the last Banking Day of the appropriate  calendar month; and
(b) in the case of other  Competitive  Bid  Loans,  on the  date  stipulated  by
Borrower in its notice of  Borrowing  with respect  thereto  pursuant to SECTION
2.13.

        "Interest Rate Basis" shall mean the Eurodollar  Rate and/or such other
basis for determining an interest rate as the Borrower and the Agent shall agree
from time to time.

        "Lending  Office"  means,  for each Bank and for each type of Loan,  the
lending office of such Bank (or of an affiliate of such Bank) designated as such
for such type of Loan on its signature  page hereof or such other office of such
Bank  (or of an  affiliate  of such  Bank) as such  Bank  may from  time to time
specify to the Agent and the  Borrower  as the office by which its Loans of such
type are to be made and maintained.

        "Lien"  means any lien  (statutory  or  otherwise),  security  interest,
mortgage,  deed of trust,  priority,  pledge,  charge,  conditional  sale, title
retention  agreement,  financing  lease  (including  any Capital Lease) or other
encumbrance  or similar  right of others,  or any  agreement  to give any of the
foregoing.

        "Loan"  means any loan made by a Bank  pursuant  to SECTION  2.01,  each
Competitive Bid Loan and each Swing Line Loan.

        "LTI" means Mellon Bank,  N.A., as Trustee for the Long-Term  Investment
Trust (together with any transferee, successor or assigns).

        "Margin"  means  for  each  Variable  Rate  and  Eurodollar   Loan,  the
percentage for such type of Loan computed pursuant to EXHIBIT 1.01.

        "Material  Adverse  Effect" means a material  adverse  effect on (a) the
business, operations,  property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects
of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the
Borrower to perform its obligations under the Facility Documents,  the Pillsbury
Documents,  the  $15,000,000  Loan  Documents  or  the  Insurance  Company  Loan
Documents,  or (c)  the  validity  or  enforceability  of  any  of the  Facility
Documents or the rights or remedies of the Banks hereunder or thereunder.

        "Multiemployer  Plan" means a Plan  defined as such in Section  3(37) of
ERISA to  which  contributions  have  been  made by the  Borrower  or any  ERISA
Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA.

        "Note" means each Revolving Note and Competitive Bid Note and the Swing
Line Note.

        "NYNEX"  means Mellon Bank,  N.A.,  as Trustee for NYNEX Master  Pension
Trust (together with any transferee, successor or assigns).

        "PBGC" means the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  and any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

        "Percentage Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Intercreditor Agreement.

        "Person" means an individual, partnership,  corporation, business trust,
joint  stock  company,  trust,   unincorporated   association,   joint  venture,
governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.

        "Pillsbury" means The Pillsbury Company, a Delaware corporation.

        "Pillsbury  Alliance  Agreement"  means the First  Amended and  Restated
Alliance  Agreement dated December 8, 1994, as amended  February 10, 1995, among
Pillsbury,  Grand Metropolitan  Incorporated and Borrower,  executed pursuant to
the Pillsbury Asset Purchase  Agreement,  and providing for the sale by Borrower
and the purchase by Pillsbury of certain  products as provided  therein,  as the
same has been amended  pursuant to Amendment  No. 1 thereto dated as of February
25, 1997, providing for the substitution as a party of Grand Metropolitan Public
Limited  Company  for  Grand  Metropolitan  Incorporated.  (A copy of each  such
agreement is attached as EXHIBIT 5.19(A)).

        "Pillsbury  Asset  Purchase  Agreement"  (a copy of which is attached as
EXHIBIT  5.19) means that  certain  First  Amended and Restated  Asset  Purchase
Agreement  dated  December  8,  1994,  as amended  February  10,  1995,  between
Pillsbury and Borrower and providing for the purchase by Borrower from Pillsbury
of certain plants and related assets owned by Pillsbury.

        "Pillsbury  Documents" means,  collectively,  (i) the Pillsbury Alliance
Agreement,  (ii) the Pillsbury  Asset  Purchase  Agreement,  (iii) the Pillsbury
Note, (iv) the Pillsbury Subordination Agreement, (v) the ss. 1111(b) Agreement,
(vi) the Security  Agreement and each Mortgage,  Security  Agreement and Fixture
Financing  Statement  between Borrower and Pillsbury,  each executed pursuant to
the Pillsbury Asset Purchase Agreement, and (vii) the Consent and Agreement.

        "Pillsbury  Note" (a copy of which is attached as EXHIBIT 5.19(B)) means
the 8% Secured  Non-Recourse  Subordinated  Promissory Note, and any replacement
therefor,  as amended by an Allonge  dated  September  __,  1997,  executed  and
delivered by Borrower to  Pillsbury in payment of part of the purchase  price of
the assets sold to Borrower pursuant to the Pillsbury Asset Purchase  Agreement,
in accordance with SECTION 2.02(A) of the Pillsbury Asset Purchase Agreement.

        "Pillsbury Subordination Agreement" has the meaning set forth in SECTION
5.10(E).

        "Plan"  means  any  employee   benefit  or  other  plan  established  or
maintained,  or to which  contributions  have been made,  by the Borrower or any
ERISA  Affiliate  and  which  is  covered  by Title IV of  ERISA,  other  than a
Multiemployer Plan.

        "Prime Rate" means that rate of interest from time to time  announced by
the Reference Bank at its principal office as its prime commercial lending rate.

        "Principal  Office" means the principal  office of the Agent,  presently
located at One Chase Plaza,  Loan and Agency Service Group, 8th Floor, New York,
New York 10081.

        "Reference Bank" means The Chase Manhattan Bank.

        "Regulation  D" means  Regulation  D of the  Board of  Governors  of the
Federal Reserve System as the same may be amended or  supplemented  from time to
time.

        "Regulation  U" means  Regulation  U of the  Board of  Governors  of the
Federal Reserve System as the same may be amended or  supplemented  from time to
time.

        "Regulatory  Change"  means,  with respect to any Bank, any change after
the  Closing  Date  in  United  States  federal,  state  or  municipal  laws  or
regulations  (including  without  limitation  Regulation  D) or the  adoption or
making after such date of any  interpretations,  directives or requests applying
to a class of banks including such Bank of or under any United States,  federal,
state or municipal laws or regulations  (whether or not having the force of law)
by  any  court  or   governmental  or  monetary   authority   charged  with  the
interpretation or administration thereof.

        "Required  Banks"  means  (i)  Banks  having  at  least  66  2/3% of the
aggregate  amount of the Commitments  or, (ii) if all of the  Commitments  shall
have  terminated,  Banks  holding  at least 66 2/3% of the  aggregate  principal
amount of the Loans  (including  in the  principal  amount of Loans held by each
Bank, any  participations  in any Loans purchased by such Bank and held pursuant
to SECTION 2.14(F) or SECTION 10.17).

        "Reserve  Requirement" means, for any Interest Period for any Eurodollar
Loan and for any Spread Loan whose Interest Rate Basis is a Eurodollar Rate, the
average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal,  supplemental or
emergency  reserves) are required to be maintained  during such Interest  Period
under  Regulation  D by member banks of the Federal  Reserve  System in New York
City with deposits exceeding  $1,000,000,000 against "Eurocurrency  liabilities"
(as such term is used in  Regulation  D).  Without  limiting  the  effect of the
foregoing,  the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to
be maintained by such member banks by reason of any  Regulatory  Change  against
(i) any category of liabilities  which  includes  deposits by reference to which
the Fixed Base Rate for such  Eurodollar  or Spread Loans is to be determined as
provided in the definition of "Fixed Base Rate" in this SECTION 1.01 or (ii) any
category of extensions  of credit or other assets which include such  Eurodollar
or Spread Loans.

        "Revolving  Loan" means a Eurodollar  Loan or a Variable  Rate Loan made
pursuant to SECTION 2.01(A).

        "Revolving Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower executed 
pursuant to SECTION 2.02 and evidencing the Revolving Loans of a Bank hereunder.
                                                          

        "ss. 1111(b) Agreement" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(F).

        "Secured   Bonds"  means  each  of  Ontario  County  (N.Y.)   Industrial
Development  Agency Refunding Revenue Bonds (Seneca Foods  Corporation  Project)
Series 1992; Wayne County Industrial  Development Agency Refunding Revenue Bonds
(Seneca Foods  Corporation  Project) Series 1992, City of Janesville,  Wisconsin
Industrial   Development  Refunding  Revenue  Bonds  (Seneca  Foods  Corporation
Project) Series 1992; and City of Rochester,  Minnesota  Industrial  Development
Agency Industrial  Development Refunding Revenue Bonds (Seneca Foods Corporation
Project) Series 1992.

        "Secured Bond Collateral" means the plants, and the real estate on which
such  plants are  located,  described  in the  Secured  Bonds and the  fixtures,
furniture and  equipment,  including  subsequently  acquired  items of fixtures,
furniture  and  equipment,  located in such plants and on the sites on which the
plants are located.

        "Security Agreement" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.10(C).

        "Significant   Subsidiary"   means  any   Subsidiary  (i)  whose  assets
constituted 10% or more of Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth as of the end of the
most recent Fiscal Quarter or (ii) which  contributed  10% or more of Borrower's
and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries'  net income, as determined on a consolidated
basis in  accordance  with  GAAP,  for any of the three  Fiscal  Years then most
recently ended.

        "Spread"  shall mean a percentage  per annum in excess of, or less than,
an Interest Rate Basis.

        "Spread  Loans" shall mean  Competitive  Bid Loans with respect to which
the  Borrower  has  requested  that the Banks  offer to make such Loans  bearing
interest at a Spread over or under a specified Interest Rate Basis.

        "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other
entity  of  which at  least a  majority  of the  securities  or other  ownership
interests  having ordinary  voting power  (absolutely or  contingently)  for the
election of directors or other persons  performing  similar functions are at the
time owned directly or indirectly by such Person.

        "Swing Line Commitment" means the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to
make Swing Line Loans under this  Agreement  in an  aggregate  principal  amount
which shall not exceed at any time the lesser of $5,000,000 or the amount of the
Swing Line Lender's Commitment.

        "Swing Line Lender" means The Chase Manhattan Bank.

        "Swing  Line  Loans"  means any  Loans  made by the  Swing  Line  Lender
pursuant to SECTION 2.14.

        "Swing Line Note" means the promissory note of the Borrower payable to
the Swing Line Lender,  executed pursuant to SECTION 2.02 and evidencing the
Swing Line Loans.

        "Tangible Net Worth" means, at any date of  determination  thereof,  the
excess of total assets of the Borrower over total  liabilities  of the Borrower,
excluding,  however,  from the  determination  of total assets,  all  intangible
assets  required  to be  classified  as such in  accordance  with GAAP,  such as
organization costs,  unamortized debt discount and expense,  goodwill,  patents,
trademarks,  copyrights,  contractual  franchises  and research and  development
expenses.

        "Termination  Date" means June 30, 1999;  provided  that if such date is
not a Banking Day, the Termination Date shall be the next succeeding Banking Day
(or, if such next succeeding  Banking Day falls in the next calendar month,  the
next preceding Banking Day).

        "Unfunded  Benefit  Liabilities"  means,  with respect to any Plan,  the
amount (if any) by which the present  value of all benefit  liabilities  (within
the meaning of Section  4001(a)(16)  of ERISA)  under the Plan  exceeds the fair
market  value of all Plan  assets  allocable  to such  benefit  liabilities,  as
determined on the most recent  valuation date of the Plan and in accordance with
the provisions of ERISA for calculating the potential  liability of the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA.

        "Variable Rate" means, for any day, the higher of (a) the Prime Rate for
such day and (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus 1/2 of 1%.

        "Variable Rate Loan" means any Loan, when and to the extent the interest
rate for such Loan is determined in relation to the Variable Rate.

        Section 1.02.  ACCOUNTING  TERMS.  All accounting terms not specifically
defined  herein shall be construed in  accordance  with GAAP,  and all financial
data required to be delivered  hereunder  shall be prepared in  accordance  with
GAAP.

        Section 1.03.  TERMS  GENERALLY.  Whenever the context may require,  any
pronoun shall include the  corresponding  masculine,  feminine and neuter forms.
The words "include",  "includes" and "including"  shall be deemed to be followed
by the phrase "without  limitation".  The word "will" shall be construed to have
the same  meaning and effect as the word  "shall".  Unless the context  requires
otherwise  (a) any  definition of or reference to any  agreement,  instrument or
other  document  herein  shall be  construed  as  referring  to such  agreement,
instrument  or other  document  as from time to time  amended,  supplemented  or
otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments,  supplements
or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall
be construed  to include such  Person's  successors  and assigns,  (c) the words
"herein",  "hereof"  and  "hereunder",  and words of  similar  import,  shall be
construed to refer to this  Agreement in its entirety and not to any  particular
provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles,  Sections, Exhibits and
Schedules  shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits
and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words "asset" and "property"  shall
be  construed  to have the same  meaning  and effect and to refer to any and all
tangible and  intangible  assets and  properties,  including  cash,  securities,
accounts and contract rights.

                             ARTICLE 2. THE CREDIT.

        Section 2.01. THE LOANS. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement,  each of the  Banks  severally  agrees to make  Eurodollar  Loans and
Variable  Rate Loans  (each of which shall be a "Loan" and all of which shall be
collectively  referred  to in  this  Agreement  as  "Revolving  Loans"  ) to the
Borrower  from  time to time  from  and  including  the  date  hereof  up to but
excluding  the  Termination  Date,  up to but  not  exceeding  in the  aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding, the amount of its Commitment.

       (b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Bank may,
in its discretion,  make  Competitive Bid Loans and the Swing Line Lender agrees
to make Swing Line Loans.

        (c) Variable  Rate Loans,  Eurodollar  Loans,  Competitive  Bid Loans or
Swing Line  Loan(s)  shall each be deemed a separate  "type" of Loans,  and each
type of Loans of each Bank shall be made and  maintained at such Bank's  Lending
Office for such type of Loans.

        (d) The  Revolving  Loans  shall be due and  payable on the  Termination
Date,  each  Competitive  Bid Loan shall be due and payable on the maturity date
therefor established pursuant to SECTION 2.13, and each Swing Line Loan shall be
due and payable on the date established pursuant to SECTION 2.14 .

        (e)  Anything in this  Agreement to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the
aggregate  principal amount of all Loans outstanding shall at no time exceed the
amount  of the  Borrowing  Base  reflected  on the most  recent  Borrowing  Base
Certificate submitted pursuant to SECTION 6.08(L).

        Section  2.02.  THE  NOTES.  The  Revolving  Loans of each Bank shall be
evidenced  by a single  promissory  note in  favor  of such  Bank in the form of
EXHIBIT 2.02A (each a "Revolving  Note"), the Competitive Bid Loans of each Bank
shall be evidenced by a single promissory note in favor of such Bank in the form
of EXHIBIT 2.02B (each a  "Competitive  Bid Note"),  and the Swing Line Loans of
the Swing Line Lender shall be  evidenced  by a promissory  note in its favor in
the form of EXHIBIT 2.02C (the "Swing Line Note"). The Notes shall each be dated
the date of this  Agreement  and shall be duly  completed  and  executed  by the
Borrower.

        Section 2.03. PURPOSE.  The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loans
for working capital and other proper  corporate  purposes,  provided,  that such
proceeds  may  not  be  used  for  any  (a)  voluntary,  optional  or  otherwise
unscheduled  (whether  voluntary or  involuntary)  prepayment of any  principal,
interest or other amount owed with respect to Funded Debt or (b) purchase, after
the Closing Date, of any Secured  Bonds or of any other  industrial  development
bonds,  or  industrial  development  revenue  bonds,  issued for the  benefit of
Borrower.  Such proceeds shall not be used for the purpose,  whether  immediate,
incidental or ultimate,  of buying or carrying "margin stock" within the meaning
of Regulation U.

        Section 2.04.  BORROWING  PROCEDURES.  The Borrower shall give the Agent
appropriate notice of each Borrowing to be made hereunder as provided in Section
2.08,  SECTION 2.13 or SECTION 2.14. Not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time
on the date of such Borrowing,  each Bank shall,  through its Lending Office and
subject to the conditions of this  Agreement,  make the amount of the Loan to be
made by it on such day  available  to the Agent at the  Principal  Office and in
immediately  available  funds for the  account  of the  Borrower.  The amount so
received by the Agent shall,  subject to the  conditions of this  Agreement,  be
made available to the Borrower,  in immediately  available  funds,  by the Agent
crediting an account of the Borrower  designated by the Borrower and  maintained
with the Agent at the Principal Office.

        Section 2.05.  PREPAYMENTS AND CONVERSIONS.  (a) The Borrower shall have
the option to make  prepayments  of  principal,  or to convert one type of Loans
into another  type of Loans,  at any time or from time to time;  provided  that,
pursuant to this SECTION  2.05(A),  (i) the Borrower shall give the Agent notice
of each such  prepayment or  conversion as provided in SECTION 2.08;  (ii) Fixed
Rate  Loans may be  prepaid  or  converted  only on the last day of an  Interest
Period for such Loans;  (iii)  Competitive  Bid Loans may not be converted  into
another type of Loan,  except as provided in SECTION  3.04;  and (iv) Swing Line
Loans may not be converted into another type of Loans.

        (b) If at any time the aggregate  principal  balance of all  outstanding
Loans  exceeds  the  Borrowing  Base  reflected  on the  latest  Borrowing  Base
Certificate  delivered to the Agent pursuant to SECTION 6.08(L),  Borrower shall
immediately give the Agent notice thereof.  Such notice shall specify the amount
of such excess,  shall  constitute a notice of prepayment  and shall specify the
Loan or Loans which Borrower intends to prepay, in whole or in part, in order to
eliminate  such excess.  Within four Banking Days after the date of such notice,
Borrower shall prepay the Loans designated in such notice.

        (c) If a Termination Event (as defined in the Security  Agreement) shall
occur,  Borrower  shall prepay to the Agent,  for the account of the Banks,  the
Loans in an amount  equal to each Bank's  Percentage  Interest of the  aggregate
amount  of  payments  made by  Pillsbury  to the  Borrower  on the  date of such
Termination Event in satisfaction of any account(s) receivable owed by Pillsbury
to the Borrower.

        (d) Subject to the  provisions of SECTION 2.12,  Borrower shall have the
right to designate the Loan(s) to be prepaid  pursuant to SECTIONS  2.05(B),  OR
(C),  provided  that, (i) it shall be required to select the type(s) of Loans to
be prepaid in the following order of priority- Swing Line Loans, Competitive Bid
Loans and Revolving  Loans;  and (ii)  Borrower  shall be required to prepay pro
rata,  in  accordance  with  SECTION  10.16,  in whole or in part to the  extent
necessary to eliminate  such  excess,  all Loans of a particular  type that were
borrowed as part of the same Borrowing, if it prepays any Loans of such type and
Borrowing.

        Section 2.06. INTEREST PERIODS;  RENEWALS. (a) In the case of each Fixed
Rate Loan,  the  Borrower  shall  select an Interest  Period of any  duration in
accordance  with the definition of Interest  Period in SECTION 1.01,  subject to
the  following  limitations:  (i) no  Interest  Period  may  extend  beyond  the
Termination  Date hereunder,  (ii) no Interest Period shall have a duration less
than one month in the case of a Eurodollar  Loan or a Spread Loan whose Interest
Rate Basis is the  Eurodollar  Rate,  and if any such proposed  Interest  Period
would  otherwise  be for a shorter  period,  such  Interest  Period shall not be
available; (iii) if an Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Banking
Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next Banking Day, unless,  in
the case of a Eurodollar  Loan or a Spread Loan whose Interest Rate Basis is the
Eurodollar Rate, such Banking Day would fall in the next calendar month in which
event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately  preceding  Banking Day;
(iv) no more than eight Interest  Periods of each Bank may be outstanding at any
one time.

        (b) Upon notice to the Agent as provided in SECTION  2.08,  the Borrower
may renew any Eurodollar  Loans on the last day of the Interest  Period therefor
as the same  type of Loans  with an  Interest  Period  of the same or  different
duration in accordance  with the  limitations  provided  above.  If the Borrower
shall fail to give notice to the Agent of such a renewal,  such  Eurodollar Loan
shall  automatically  become a Variable Rate Loan on the last day of the current
Interest Period; provided that the foregoing shall not prevent the conversion of
any type of  Eurodollar  Loan  into  another  type of Loans in  accordance  with
SECTION 2.05.

        Section 2.07. CHANGES OF COMMITMENTS.  The Borrower shall have the right
to reduce or terminate  the amount of unused  Commitments  and/or the Swing Line
Commitment  at any time or from time to time,  provided  that:  (a) the Borrower
shall give notice of each such reduction or termination to the Agent as provided
in SECTION 2.08; and (b) each partial  reduction shall be in an aggregate amount
at least equal to  $10,000,000.  The  Commitments  and the Swing Line Commitment
once reduced or terminated pursuant to this Section may not be reinstated.

        Section 2.08.  CERTAIN NOTICES.  Notices by the Borrower to the Agent of
each  Borrowing  of Revolving  Loans given  pursuant to SECTION  2.04,  and each
prepayment or conversion  pursuant to SECTION 2.05 and each renewal  pursuant to
SECTION  2.06(B),  and each reduction or  termination of the  Commitments or the
Swing Line  Commitments  pursuant to SECTION 2.07 shall be irrevocable and shall
be effective  on the Banking Day of receipt,  if received by the Agent not later
than 12:00 noon New York City time, and otherwise,  on the Banking Day following
the day of  receipt,  and (a) in the  case of  Borrowings  and  prepayments  of,
conversions into and (in the case of Eurodollar  Loans) renewals of (i) Variable
Rate Loans,  given one Banking Day prior  thereto;  and (ii)  Eurodollar  Loans,
given three  Banking Days prior  thereto;  and (b) in the case of  reductions or
termination  of the  Commitments  or the Swing  Line  Commitments,  given  three
Banking  Days prior  thereto.  Each such  notice  shall  specify the Loans to be
borrowed, prepaid, converted or renewed and the amount (subject to SECTION 2.09)
and type of the Loans to be borrowed, or converted,  or prepaid or renewed (and,
in the case of a  conversion,  the type of Loans to result from such  conversion
and, in the case of  conversion  into a Eurodollar  Loan,  the  Interest  Period
therefor) and the date of the Borrowing or prepayment,  or conversion or renewal
(which shall be a Banking  Day).  Each such notice of  reduction or  termination
shall specify the amount of the Commitments or the Swing Line  Commitments to be
reduced or terminated. Notices pursuant to SECTIONS 2.13 AND 2.14 shall be given
as provided in those Sections.  The Agent shall promptly notify the Banks of the
contents of each such notice.  Any notice given to the Agent  hereunder shall be
confirmed promptly by telex, telecopy or other writing.

        Section 2.09.  MINIMUM AMOUNTS.  Except for Borrowings which exhaust the
full remaining  amount of the  Commitments,  prepayments  or  conversions  which
result in the  prepayment  or  conversion  of all Loans of a particular  type or
conversions   made  pursuant  to  SECTION  3.04,  each  Borrowing,   prepayment,
conversion and renewal of principal of Loans of a particular type shall be in an
amount at least equal to $1,000,000 in the aggregate for all Banks  (borrowings,
prepayments,  conversions or renewals of or into Loans of different types or, in
the case of Fixed Rate Loans, having different Interest Periods at the same time
hereunder  to  be  deemed  separate  borrowings,  prepayments,  conversions  and
renewals  for the  purposes  of the  foregoing,  one for each  type of  Interest
Period).  Anything  in  this  Agreement  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the
aggregate  principal  amount of Fixed Rate Loans of each type having  concurrent
Interest  Periods  shall be at least equal to $500,000 in the aggregate for each
Bank.

        Section 2.10. INTEREST. (a) Interest shall accrue on the outstanding and
unpaid  principal amount of each Loan for the period from and including the date
of such Loan to but excluding  the date such Loan is due at the following  rates
per annum:  (i) for a Variable  Rate Loan, at a variable rate per annum equal to
the Variable Rate plus any applicable  Margin,  (ii) for a Eurodollar Loan, at a
fixed rate equal to the Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable Margin,  (iii) for a
Competitive Bid Loan, at a fixed rate  determined  pursuant to SECTION 2.13, and
(iv) for a Swing Line Loan,  at a rate  determined  pursuant to SECTION 2.14. If
the  principal  amount of any Loan and any other amount  payable by the Borrower
hereunder or under the Note shall not be paid when due (at stated  maturity,  by
acceleration or otherwise),  interest shall accrue on such amount to the fullest
extent  permitted  by law from and  including  such due date (which shall be two
Banking  Days after  receipt of a demand  therefor,  in the case of amounts owed
pursuant to SECTION 11.03) to but excluding the date such amount is paid in full
at the Default Rate.

        (b) The interest  rate on each  Variable Rate Loan shall change when the
Variable  Rate changes and interest on each such Loan shall be calculated on the
basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days  elapsed.  Interest on
each Fixed Rate Loan shall be  calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days for
the actual  number of days  elapsed.  Promptly  after the  determination  of any
interest rate provided for herein or any change therein,  the Agent shall notify
the Borrower and the Banks.

        (c)  Accrued  interest  on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears
upon any  payment of  principal  or  conversion  of such Loan,  and (i) for each
Variable  Rate Loan, on the first day of each month,  commencing  the first such
date  after such  Loan;  (ii) for each  Fixed Rate Loan,  on the last day of the
Interest  Period with  respect  thereto  and, in the case of an Interest  Period
greater than three months at three-month  intervals  after the first day of such
Interest  Period;  provided that interest  accruing at the Default Rate shall be
due and payable from time to time on demand of the Agent.

        Section 2.11.  FEES. On the Closing Date,  the Borrower  shall pay to
the Agent for the account of each Bank an upfront fee of 6.25 basis points on
the amount of each Bank's Commitment up to the following amounts:

                The Chase Manhattan Bank                $37,500,000
                Fleet Bank                               32,500.000
                Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company  20,000,000
                Harris Trust and Savings Bank            12,500,000
                RaboBank Nederland                       12,500,000
                The Fuji Bank, Ltd.                       7,500,000
                The Sumitomo Bank, Limited                7,500,000
                National Bank of Canada                   7,500,000

        In the event that any Bank's  Commitment on the Closing Date exceeds the
above  amount,  the Borrower  shall pay an  additional  fee to the Agent for the
account  of such Bank of 12.5 basis  points on the  amount by which such  Bank's
Commitment exceeds the above amount.

        In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each
Bank a  Commitment  fee on the daily  average  unused  Commitment  of such Bank,
without  regard  to any  reduction  in such  Commitment  as a result of any Bank
Cleandown,  for the period from and  including the date hereof to the earlier of
the date the Commitments are terminated or the Termination Date. Such Commitment
fee shall accrue at a rate per annum  determined  pursuant to EXHIBIT 1.01,  and
shall be  calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of
days elapsed.  Neither any  outstanding  Competitive  Bid Loan of a Bank nor any
outstanding  Swing Line Loan of the Swing Line Lender  shall  reduce such Bank's
unused  Commitment on which its Commitment fee is based. The accrued  Commitment
fee shall be due and payable in arrears upon any reduction or termination of the
Commitments and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter,  commencing on the first
such date after the Closing Date.

        Section 2.12. PAYMENTS  GENERALLY.  All payments under this Agreement or
the Notes shall be made in Dollars in immediately available funds not later than
1:00 p.m. New York City time on the relevant  dates  specified  above (each such
payment  made after such time on such due date to be deemed to have been made on
the next  succeeding  Banking Day) to the Agent's  account  number  900-9-000002
maintained at the  Principal  Office for the account of the  applicable  Lending
Office of each Bank.  The Agent,  or any Bank for whose account any such payment
is to be made,  may (but shall not be obligated to) debit the amount of any such
payment  which is not made by such time to any ordinary  deposit  account of the
Borrower  with the Agent or such Bank, as the case may be, and any Bank so doing
shall promptly notify the Agent.  The Borrower shall, at the time of making each
payment under this Agreement or the Notes, specify to the Agent the principal or
other amount  payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or the Notes to which
such payment is to be applied (and in the event that it fails to so specify,  or
if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing,  the Agent may
apply such  payment as it may elect in its sole  discretion  (subject to SECTION
10.16)).  If the due date of any payment under this Agreement or the Notes would
otherwise  fall on a day which is not a Banking Day, such date shall be extended
to the  next  succeeding  Banking  Day and  interest  shall be  payable  for any
principal so extended for the period of such extension. Each payment received by
the Agent  hereunder  or under any Note for the  account of a Bank shall be paid
promptly to such Bank, in immediately  available  funds, for the account of such
Bank's Lending Office.

        Section 2.13. COMPETITIVE BID LOANS. (a) On the terms and conditions set
forth  in this  SECTION  2.13,  and in  reliance  upon the  representations  and
warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement, each Bank, severally and
not  jointly,  agrees  that  Borrower  may  borrow  a  Loan  or  Loans  (each  a
"Competitive Bid Loan"), from time to time from and including the date hereof to
but excluding the Termination Date;  provided that no Competitive Bid Loan shall
be made  hereunder if, after giving  effect  thereto,  the  aggregate  principal
amount of all Loans  outstanding would exceed the lesser of the aggregate amount
of all Commitments or the Borrowing Base reflected on the most recent  Borrowing
Base Certificate  submitted  pursuant to SECTION  6.08(L).  Each Competitive Bid
Loan will be  payable on the last day of the  Interest  Period  therefor  and no
Competitive  Bid Loan  shall be  converted  into  another  type of Loan,  except
pursuant to SECTION 3.04.

        (b) Whenever the Borrower decides to make a Borrowing of Competitive Bid
Loans  hereunder,  it shall give the  Agent,  not later than 12:00 noon New York
City  time,  on the  fifth  Banking  Day  prior  to the  date of  such  proposed
Borrowing,  a written  notice of Borrowing,  which shall specify (i) the date of
the proposed  Borrowing  (which shall be a Banking Day) and the aggregate amount
thereof (which shall not be less than $1,000,000),  (ii) the Interest Period and
maturity date for each  Competitive Bid Loan  comprising  such Borrowing  (which
maturity  date shall be the last day of the  Interest  Period  therefor),  (iii)
whether the proposed  Borrowing  is to be a Borrowing of Absolute  Rate Loans or
Spread Loans, and if it is to be Spread Loans, the Interest Rate Basis, and (iv)
any other terms to be applicable to such  Competitive Bid Loans.  Promptly after
receipt of such  notice,  the Agent shall  provide each Bank with a copy thereof
and the  Borrower  shall  pay the  Agent a fee of  $2,500  each  time the  Agent
provides the Banks with such a notice.

        (c) Each  Bank  shall,  if in its sole  discretion  it  elects to do so,
irrevocably  offer to make one or more  Competitive Bid Loans to the Borrower as
part of such proposed Borrowing at a rate or rates of interest specified by such
Bank in its sole  discretion and determined by such Bank  independently  of each
other Bank.  Such offer shall be made by each offering Bank  notifying the Agent
(which shall give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower)  before 10:00 a.m. (New
York City time) on the date (the "Reply Date"),  which is (i) in the case of the
Borrowing of Absolute Rate Loans, the Banking Day before and (ii) in the case of
a Borrowing of Spread Loans, four Banking Days before,  the date of the proposed
Borrowing of Competitive Bid Loans,  which notice shall state the minimum amount
and maximum amount of each proposed Competitive Bid Loan which such Bank thereby
offers to make,  the rate or rates of interest  therefor and such Bank's Lending
Office with respect to each such  Competitive  Bid Loan;  provided  that, if the
Agent in its capacity as a Bank shall, in its sole discretion, elect to make any
such offer,  it shall notify the  Borrower of such offer  before 9:30 a.m.  (New
York City time) on the Reply Date. The  outstanding  Competitive  Bid Loans of a
Bank shall not reduce the amount of such Bank's unused Commitment. Consequently,
the  aggregate  amount of a Bank's  outstanding  Competitive  Bid Loans plus its
other outstanding  Loans may exceed its Commitment.  If any Bank shall elect not
to make such an offer to make  Competitive Bid Loans,  such Bank shall so notify
the Agent,  before 10:00 a.m.  (New York City time) on the Reply Date,  and such
Bank shall not be obligated to, and shall not, make any  Competitive Bid Loan as
part of the proposed  Borrowing of  Competitive  Bid Loans;  provided,  that the
failure  by any  Bank to give  such  notice  shall  not  cause  such  Bank to be
obligated to make any Competitive Bid Loan as part of such proposed Borrowing.

        (d) The  Borrower  shall,  in turn,  before (i) in the case of  Absolute
Rate Loans, 12:00 noon (New York City time) or (ii) in the case of Spread
Loans, 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Reply Date, either

                (1)  Cancel the proposed Borrowing of Competitive Bid Loans by
giving the Agent notice to that effect, which shall be irrevocable, or

                (2) Accept  one or more of the offers  made by any Bank or Banks
pursuant  to CLAUSE  (C) above by giving  notice  (in  writing  or by  telephone
promptly confirmed in writing) to the Agent, which shall be irrevocable,  of the
amount of each  Competitive  Bid Loan (which amount shall be equal to or greater
than the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the maximum amount,  notified
to the  Borrower  by the Agent on behalf of such Bank for such  Competitive  Bid
Loans  pursuant  to  CLAUSE  (C)  above)  to be made by each Bank as part of the
Borrowing of such Competitive Bid Loans, and reject any remaining offers made by
Banks  pursuant to CLAUSE (C) above by giving the Agent  notice to that  effect;
provided,  that  acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending
Absolute  Rates (in the case of Absolute  Rate Loans) or Spreads (in the case of
Spread  Loans),  in each  case  commencing  with  the  lowest  rate so  offered;
provided, however, that if offers are made by two or more Banks at the same rate
and  acceptance  of all such equal offers  would  result in a greater  principal
amount of  Competitive  Bid Loans being  accepted than the  aggregate  principal
amount  request by the Borrower,  the Borrower  shall have the right in its sole
discretion to accept one or more such equal offers in their  entirety and reject
the other equal offer or offers or to allocate  acceptance  among all such equal
offers (but giving effect to the minimum and maximum amounts  specified for each
such offer pursuant to CLAUSE (C) above).

        (e) If the Borrower  notifies  the Agent that the proposed  Borrowing of
Competitive  Bid Loans is canceled  pursuant to CLAUSE (D)(1)  above,  the Agent
shall give prompt notice  thereof to the Banks and such  Borrowing  shall not be
made.

        (f) If the  Borrower  accepts one or more of the offers made by any Bank
or Banks,  pursuant to CLAUSE  (D)(2)  above,  the Agent shall in turn  promptly
notify (i) each Bank that has made an offer as described in CLAUSE (C) above, of
the date and  aggregate  amount of the  Borrowing of  Competitive  Bid Loans and
whether  or not any offer or offers  made by such Bank  pursuant  to CLAUSE  (C)
above have been  accepted by the  Borrower  and (ii) each Bank that is to make a
Competitive  Bid  Loan  as  part  of  such  Borrowing,  of the  amount  of  such
Competitive Bid Loan to be made by such Bank as part of such Borrowing.

        (g) The Borrower and the Banks agree that,  during the  existence of any
Default or Event of Default by reason of any  failure by Borrower to comply with
ARTICLE 8, the Borrower will not request, and no Bank will extend, any Borrowing
of a Competitive Bid Loan.

        Section  2.14.  SWING LINE LOANS.  (a) On the terms and  conditions  set
forth in this Agreement, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties
of the Borrower set forth  herein,  the Swing Line Lender  agrees to make,  from
time to time loans to Borrower, which may be borrowed,  repaid and reborrowed in
accordance  with the terms  hereof,  from and  including  the date hereof to but
excluding  the  earlier  of the  Termination  Date  or the  date  on  which  all
Commitments  are either  terminated or reduced to zero pursuant to SECTION 2.07,
up to but not  exceeding  in the  aggregate  principal  amount  at any one  time
outstanding,  the amount of its Swing Line  Commitment (the "Swing Line Loans");
provided,  that no Swing  Line Loan shall be made  hereunder  if,  after  giving
effect thereto,  the aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of all Loans would
exceed  the  lesser  of the  total  of all  Commitments  or the  Borrowing  Base
reflected on the most recent  Borrowing Base Certificate  submitted  pursuant to
SECTION  6.08(L);  and  provided  further  that no Swing Line Loan shall be made
hereunder if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount of Swing Line Loans, plus the aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of
the Swing Line  Lender's  Revolving  Loans,  would exceed the  Commitment of the
Swing Line  Lender.  Outstanding  Swing  Line Loans  shall not reduce the unused
portion of the Commitment of the Swing Line Lender,  for the purposes of SECTION
2.11.

        (b) All Swing Line Loans shall bear  interest at the rate agreed to from
time to time between the Borrower and the Swing Line Lender.  Borrower shall not
be entitled to convert any Swing Line Loans into any other type of Loans.  Swing
Line Loans made on any date shall be in aggregate minimum amount of $500,000.

        (c) Whenever the Borrower  desires to borrow a Swing Line Loan, it shall
give the Agent and the Swing Line Lender, no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on the proposed date for such Borrowing, telephonic (confirmed promptly in
writing) or written notice of such  Borrowing,  which shall be  irrevocable  and
shall specify (i) the principal  amount of the Swing Line Loans to be made, (ii)
the date of such  Borrowing  (which shall be a Banking Day),  (iii) the maturity
date for such Swing Line Loan (which shall be payable on demand and in any event
no later  than  seven (7) days  after the making  thereof  or, if  earlier,  the
Termination  Date),  and (iv) the agreed upon  interest rate for such Swing Line
Loan.

        (d) Promptly  after  receiving a notice of Borrowing  pursuant to CLAUSE
(C) above,  the Agent shall provide each Bank with a copy thereof (or telephonic
notice of the contents thereof confirmed promptly by providing a copy thereof).

        (e) The Swing Line Lender shall in its sole and absolute  discretion  be
entitled to require a Borrowing of Variable Rate Loans  hereunder,  the proceeds
of which  shall be  applied  to the  pre-payment  of all Swing  Line  Loans then
outstanding,  by giving notice (by telephone  promptly  confirmed in writing) to
the Agent,  the Borrower  and the Banks to such  effect,  which notice shall set
forth the aggregate  outstanding principal amount of such Swing Line Loans. Upon
the giving of such notice,  the Borrower  shall be deemed to have timely given a
notice of Borrowing to the Agent  requesting  Revolving Loans which are Variable
Rate Loans on the Banking Day  following  such notice,  and the Banks shall,  on
such date,  make Revolving  Loans which are Variable Rate Loans in the aggregate
amount of such Swing Line Loans,  the  proceeds of which shall be applied by the
Agent to the  pre-payment  of such  Swing  Line  Loans;  provided,  that for the
purposes solely of such Borrowing, the conditions precedent set forth in ARTICLE
4,  and the  minimum  Borrowing  requirements  of  SECTION  2.09,  shall  not be
applicable. Unless the Borrower shall have notified the Agent and the Swing Line
Lender  prior to 11:00  a.m.  (New York City  time) on the date which is six (6)
days  following the date on which any Swing Line Loan has been made by the Swing
Line Lender that the Borrower  intends to  reimburse  the Swing Line Lender with
funds other than the  proceeds  of  Revolving  Loans,  the Agent shall give such
notice on behalf of the Swing Line Lender.

        (f) Upon the giving of notice to the  following  effect to the Agent and
to each Bank by the Swing Line Lender, in its sole and absolute discretion,  any
deemed  notice of Borrowing  given under  CLAUSE (E) above  pursuant to which no
Borrowing  has yet been made  shall be deemed  canceled  and each Bank  shall be
deemed to, and hereby agrees to, irrevocably purchase from the Swing Line Lender
a participation in its Swing Line Loans in the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount equal to such Bank's pro rata share of the aggregate  principal amount of
such Swing Line  Loans,  and shall make  available  to the Swing Line  Lender an
amount equal to its  respective  participation  in the Swing Line Lender's Swing
Line Loans in Dollars  and  immediately  available  funds,  at the office of the
Swing Line Lender specified by notice to the Agent and each Bank in such notice,
not later than 1:00 p.m.  (New York City time) on the second  Banking  Day after
the giving of such notice. In the event that any Bank fails to make available to
the Swing Line  Lender the amount of such  Bank's  participation  as provided in
this CLAUSE (F),  the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount
on demand from such Bank together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate set by
the Agent for three (3) Banking Days and  thereafter at the Prime Rate,  and the
Swing Line Lender shall,  until such time as all such amounts have been paid, be
deemed  to have  outstanding  a Swing  Line Loan in the  amount  of such  unpaid
participation  for all purposes of this  Agreement  other than those  provisions
requiring  Banks to purchase an interest  therein.  The Swing Line Lender  shall
distribute  to each other Bank  which has paid all  amounts  payable by it under
this  CLAUSE  (F) with  respect  to the Swing  Line Loans made by the Swing Line
Lender,  such other  Banks'  share of all  payments  received  by the Swing Line
Lender in respect of such Swing Line Loans when such payments are received.  The
obligations  of the Banks  under  this  CLAUSE  (F) shall be  unconditional  and
irrevocable  and shall be paid  strictly  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Agreement under all circumstances including, without limitation, the fact that a
Default or an Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  or any
other circumstances whatsoever.

        Section  2.15.  CLEANDOWN.  (a) The Borrower  shall reduce the aggregate
principal amount of all Loans outstanding to $30,000,000 or less for a period of
thirty  consecutive  days  between  November  1 of each year and April 30 of the
following  year (the  "Borrower  Cleandown")  and shall provide a notice of such
reduction  as  required  by SECTION  2.15(B).  If, as of April 1 of any year,  a
Borrower  Cleandown  has not  been  completed  in the  five  months  immediately
preceding such date,  the  Commitments of the Banks shall be reduced pro rata so
that the aggregate  amount of all  Commitments  is reduced to  $30,000,000 as of
such date, and such reduction shall continue  through April 30 of such year (the
"Bank  Cleandown").  However,  in the event  that as of any  April 1 a  Borrower
Cleandown has begun and is  continuing,  but has not continued for a consecutive
thirty day period,  then the Bank  Cleandown  shall  terminate once the Borrower
Cleandown has continued for thirty  consecutive days. On completion of each Bank
Cleandown,  the  Commitments  shall be restored to the levels that existed as of
the March 31 immediately preceding such Bank Cleandown.

        (b) Within  five  Banking  Days after the  completion  of each  Borrower
Cleandown,  the  Borrower  shall  notify  the Agent as to the date on which such
Borrower Cleandown was completed. The Agent shall review each such notice and if
it  concludes  that the  Borrower  Cleandown  was  completed as indicated in the
latter such  notice,  it shall so notify the  Borrower and each Bank within five
Banking Days of such notice. If the Agent concludes that the Borrower  Cleandown
was not properly  completed,  it shall so notify the Borrower,  within such five
day period,  specifying the date(s)  during the period of the asserted  Borrower
Cleandown  on which  the  aggregate  principal  balance  of all  Loans  exceeded
$30,000,000.

                  ARTICLE 3. YIELD PROTECTION; ILLEGALITY; ETC.

        Section 3.01.  ADDITIONAL  COSTS. (a) The Borrower shall pay directly to
each Bank from time to time on demand such amounts as such Bank may determine to
be  necessary  to  compensate  it for  any  costs  which  such  Bank  reasonably
determines are  attributable  to its making or maintaining  any Fixed Rate Loans
under this Agreement or any of its Notes with respect to Fixed Rate Loans or its
obligation  to make any such Loans  hereunder,  or any  reduction  in any amount
receivable  by  such  Bank  hereunder  in  respect  of any  such  Loans  or such
obligation  (such increases in costs and reductions in amounts  receivable being
herein called "Additional  Costs"),  resulting from any Regulatory Change which:
(i) changes the basis of taxation of any amounts payable to such Bank under this
Agreement or any of such Notes in respect of any of such Loans (other than taxes
imposed on the overall net income of such Bank or of its Lending  Office for any
of such Loans by the jurisdiction in which such Bank has its principal office or
such Lending Office); or (ii) imposes or modifies any reserve,  special deposit,
deposit  insurance or  assessment,  minimum  capital,  capital  ratio or similar
requirements  relating to any  extensions  of credit or other  assets of, or any
deposits with or other liabilities of, such Bank (including any of such Loans or
any  deposits  referred  to in the  definition  of "Fixed  Base Rate" in SECTION
1.01); or (iii) imposes any other  condition  affecting this Agreement or any of
such Notes (or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities).  Each Bank will
notify the  Borrower  of any event  occurring  after the date of this  Agreement
which will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this SECTION 3.01(A) as
promptly as  practicable  after it obtains  knowledge  thereof and determines to
request such compensation.  If any Bank requests  compensation from the Borrower
under this SECTION  3.01(A),  or under  SECTION  3.01(C),  the Borrower  may, by
notice to such Bank (with a copy to the Agent),  require  that such Bank's Loans
of the type with respect to which such compensation is requested be converted in
accordance with SECTION 3.04.

        (b) Without  limiting  the effect of the  foregoing  provisions  of this
SECTION 3.01, in the event that, by reason of any  Regulatory  Change,  any Bank
either (i) incurs  Additional  Costs based on or measured by the excess  above a
specified level of the amount of a category of deposits or other  liabilities of
such Bank which  includes  deposits by reference  to which the interest  rate on
Eurodollar  Loans is determined  as provided in this  Agreement or a category of
extensions  of credit or other  assets of such Bank  which  includes  Eurodollar
Loans or (ii) becomes  subject to  restrictions on the amount of such a category
of  liabilities  or assets  which it may hold,  then,  if such Bank so elects by
notice to the Borrower  (with a copy to the Agent),  the obligation of such Bank
to make or renew,  and to convert  Loans of any other  type into,  Loans of such
type hereunder shall be suspended  until the date such Regulatory  Change ceases
to be in effect  (and all Loans of such type held by such Bank then  outstanding
shall be converted in accordance with SECTION 3.04).

        (c) Without  limiting  the effect of the  foregoing  provisions  of this
SECTION 3.01 (but without duplication),  the Borrower shall pay directly to each
Bank from  time to time on  request  such  amounts  as such Bank may  reasonably
determine  to be  necessary  to  compensate  such  Bank for any  costs  which it
determines are  attributable  to the  maintenance by it or any of its affiliates
pursuant to any law or regulation  of any  jurisdiction  or any  interpretation,
directive  or request  (whether  or not  having the force of law and  whether in
effect on the date of this Agreement or thereafter) of any court or governmental
or  monetary  authority  of capital in  respect  of its Loans  hereunder  or its
obligation  to make Loans  hereunder  (such  compensation  to  include,  without
limitation,  an amount  equal to any  reduction in return on assets or equity of
such Bank to a level below that which it could have  achieved  but for such law,
regulation,  interpretation,  directive or  request).  Each Bank will notify the
Borrower if it is entitled to  compensation  pursuant to this SECTION 3.01(C) as
promptly as practicable after it determines to request such compensation.

        (d)  Determinations  and  allocations  by a Bank  for  purposes  of this
SECTION 3.01 of the effect of any Regulatory  Change pursuant to subsections (a)
or (b), or of the effect of capital  maintained  pursuant to subsection  (c), on
its costs of making or maintaining  Loans or its obligation to make Loans, or on
amounts  receivable by, or the rate of return to, it in respect of Loans or such
obligation, and of the additional amounts required to compensate such Bank under
this SECTION 3.01, shall be conclusive,  provided that such  determinations  and
allocations are made on a reasonable basis.

        Section 3.02.  LIMITATION ON TYPES OF LOANS.  Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, if:

        (a) the Agent determines (which  determination shall be conclusive) that
quotations  of  interest  rates for the  relevant  deposits  referred  to in the
definition  of "Fixed Base Rate" in SECTION  1.01 are not being  provided in the
relevant amounts or for the relevant  maturities for purposes of determining the
rate of interest for any type of Fixed Rate Loans as provided in this Agreement;
or

        (b)  the  Required  Banks  determine  (which   determination   shall  be
conclusive) and notify the Agent that the relevant rates of interest referred to
in the  definition  of "Fixed Base Rate" in SECTION 1.01 upon the basis of which
the rate of interest for any type of Fixed Rate Loans is to be determined do not
adequately cover the cost to the Banks of making or maintaining such Loans;

then the Agent shall give the Borrower and each Bank prompt notice thereof,  and
so long as such  condition  remains  in  effect,  the  Banks  shall  be under no
obligation  to make or renew Loans of such type or to convert Loans of any other
type into Loans of such type and the Borrower  shall,  on the last day(s) of the
then current Interest  Period(s) for the outstanding Loans of the affected type,
either  prepay such Loans or convert  such Loans into  another  type of Loans in
accordance with SECTION 2.05.

        Section 3.03.  ILLEGALITY.  Notwithstanding  any other provision in this
Agreement,  in the event that it becomes  unlawful  for any Bank or its  Lending
Office to (a) honor its obligation to make or renew  Eurodollar  Loans hereunder
or convert Loans of any type into Loans of such type, or (b) maintain Eurodollar
Loans hereunder, then such Bank shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof (with
a copy to the  Agent) and such  Bank's  obligation  to make or renew  Eurodollar
Loans,  as the case may be,  and to convert  other  types of Loans into Loans of
such type  hereunder  shall be suspended  until such time as such Bank may again
make,  renew,  or convert  and  maintain  such  affected  Loans and such  Bank's
outstanding  Eurodollar  Loans,  as the  case  may be,  shall  be  converted  in
accordance with SECTION 3.04.

        Section 3.04. CERTAIN CONVERSIONS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 3.01 AND 3.03. If
the Loans of any Bank of a  particular  type  (Loans of such type  being  herein
called  "Affected  Loans" and such type being herein called the "Affected Type")
are to be converted pursuant to SECTION 3.01 OR 3.03, such Bank's Affected Loans
shall be automatically  converted into Variable Rate Loans on the last day(s) of
the then current Interest Period(s) for the Affected Loans (or, in the case of a
conversion  required by SECTION  3.01(B) OR 3.03,  on such  earlier date as such
Bank may specify to the Borrower with a copy to the Agent) and, unless and until
such Bank gives  notice as provided  below that the  circumstances  specified in
SECTION 3.01 OR 3.03 which gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

        (a) to  the  extent  that  such  Bank's  Affected  Loans  have  been  so
converted,  all payments and  prepayments of principal  which would otherwise be
applied to such Bank's  Affected Loans shall be applied  instead to its Variable
Rate Loans;

        (b) all Loans which would  otherwise  be made or renewed by such Bank as
Loans of the Affected  Type shall be made instead as Variable Rate Loans and all
Loans of such Bank which would otherwise be converted into Loans of the Affected
Type shall be converted  instead into (or shall remain as) Variable  Rate Loans;
and

        (c) if Loans  of  other  Banks  of the  Affected  Type are  subsequently
converted  into Loans of another type (other than  Variable  Rate  Loans),  such
Bank's  Variable Rate Loans shall be  automatically  converted on the conversion
date into Loans of such other type to the extent necessary so that, after giving
effect  thereto,  all Loans held by such Bank and the Banks  whose  Loans are so
converted  are held  pro  rata (as to  principal  amounts,  types  and  Interest
Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments.

        If such Bank  gives  notice to the  Borrower  (with a copy to the Agent)
that the circumstances  specified in SECTION 3.01 OR 3.03 which gave rise to the
conversion of such Bank's Affected Loans pursuant to this SECTION 3.04 no longer
exist (which such Bank agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances  ceasing to
exist) at a time when Loans of the Affected  Type are  outstanding,  such Bank's
Variable Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the
next succeeding  Interest  Period(s) for such outstanding  Loans of the Affected
Type to the extent  necessary so that,  after giving effect  thereto,  all Loans
held by the Banks  holding  Loans of the Affected Type and by such Bank are held
pro rata (as to principal  amounts,  types and Interest  Periods) in  accordance
with their respective Commitments.

        Section 3.05. CERTAIN COMPENSATION.  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent
for the account of each Bank,  upon the request of such Bank  through the Agent,
such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient (in the reasonable opinion of such
Bank) to compensate it for any loss,  cost or expense which such Bank determines
is attributable to:

        (a) any payment, prepayment,  conversion or renewal of a Fixed Rate Loan
made by such Bank on a date  other than the last day of an  Interest  Period for
such Loan  (whether by reason of required  prepayment,  required  conversion  or
acceleration or otherwise); or

        (b) any failure by the Borrower to borrow, convert into or renew a Fixed
Rate  Loan to be  made,  converted  into or  renewed  by such  Bank on the  date
specified  therefor in the relevant  notice under  SECTION 2.04,  2.05,  2.06 OR
2.13, as the case may be.

        Without  limiting the  foregoing,  such  compensation  shall  include an
amount  equal to the  excess,  if any,  of:  (i) the  amount of  interest  which
otherwise would have accrued on the principal amount so paid, prepaid, converted
or renewed  or not  borrowed,  converted  or  renewed  for the  period  from and
including  the date of such  payment,  prepayment  or  conversion  or failure to
borrow,  convert  or renew  to but  excluding  the last day of the then  current
Interest  Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow,  convert
or renew,  to but  excluding  the last day of the Interest  Period for such Loan
which  would have  commenced  on the date  specified  therefor  in the  relevant
notice) at the  applicable  rate of interest for such Loan  provided for herein;
over (ii) the amount of interest (as  reasonably  determined  by such Bank) such
Bank  would  have bid on the first  day of such  Interest  Period in the  London
interbank  market (if such Loan is a Eurodollar  Loan) or other relevant  market
(if  interest  on such Loan is not  based on the  Eurodollar  Rate)  for  Dollar
deposits  for  amounts  comparable  to  such  principal  amount  and  maturities
comparable to such Interest Period.

                        ARTICLE 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

        Section 4.01.  DOCUMENTARY  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT.  The effectiveness of
this Agreement and the  obligations of the Banks to make the Loans  constituting
the initial Borrowing  hereunder are subject to the condition precedent that the
Agent  shall have  received on or before the date of such  effectiveness  and of
such Loans each of the  following,  in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the
Agent and its counsel:

        (a) the Notes duly executed by the Borrower;

        (b) the  Authorization  Letter,  in the  form of  EXHIBIT  4.01(B)  duly
executed by the Borrower;

        (c) a  certificate  of  the  Secretary  or  Assistant  Secretary  of the
Borrower, dated the Closing Date, attesting to all corporate action taken by the
Borrower,  including  resolutions  of its  Board of  Directors  authorizing  the
execution,  delivery and  performance  of the Facility  Documents and each other
document to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement;

        (d) a  certificate  of  the  Secretary  or  Assistant  Secretary  of the
Borrower,  dated the Closing Date,  certifying the names and true  signatures of
the officers of the Borrower  authorized to sign the Facility  Documents and the
other documents to be delivered by the Borrower under this Agreement;

        (e) a certificate of a duly  authorized  officer of the Borrower,  dated
the Closing Date, stating that the  representations  and warranties in ARTICLE 5
are true and correct on such date as though made on and as of such date and that
no event has occurred and is continuing which  constitutes a Default or Event of
Default;

        (f) a favorable opinion of counsel for the Borrower, dated the Closing
Date, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT 4.01(F) and as to such other matters
as the Agent or any Bank may reasonably request; and

        (g) the upfront fee,  payable to the Agent for the account of each Bank,
calculated pursuant to the terms of SECTION 2.11.

        Section 4.02. ADDITIONAL  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT.  The obligations of the
Banks to make any Loans pursuant to a Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing
under this Agreement) shall be subject to the further conditions  precedent that
on the date of such Loans:

        (a) the following statements shall be true:

                (i) the  representations  and  warranties contained in ARTICLE 5
are true and correct on and as of the date of such Loans as though made on and
as of such date; and

                (ii)  no  Default  or  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing, or would result from such Loans; and

        (b) the Agent shall have received such approvals,  opinions or documents
as the Agent or any Bank may reasonably request.

        Section 4.03. DEEMED REPRESENTATIONS. Each notice of Borrowing hereunder
and  acceptance  by the  Borrower  of  the  proceeds  of  such  Borrowing  shall
constitute  a  representation  and  warranty  that the  statements  contained in
SECTION 4.02(A) are true and correct both on the date of such notice and, unless
the Borrower  otherwise  notifies the Agent prior to such  Borrowing,  as of the
date of such Borrowing.

                   ARTICLE 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that:

        Section 5.01. INCORPORATION,  GOOD STANDING AND DUE QUALIFICATION.  Each
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly incorporated,  validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction of its  incorporation,  has
the corporate power and authority to own its assets and to transact the business
in which it is now engaged or proposed to be engaged, and is duly qualified as a
foreign  corporation  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  each  other
jurisdiction in which such  qualification is required,  except where the failure
to so qualify  would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

        Section  5.02.  CORPORATE  POWER  AND  AUTHORITY;   NO  CONFLICTS.   The
execution,  delivery and  performance by the Borrower of the Facility  Documents
have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate action and do not and will
not: (a) require any consent or approval of its stockholders; (b) contravene its
charter or  by-laws;  (c)  violate  any  provision  of, or require  any  filing,
registration,  consent or approval under, any law, rule, regulation  (including,
without limitation,  Regulation U), order, writ, judgment,  injunction,  decree,
determination or award presently in effect having  applicability to the Borrower
or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  or  Affiliates;  (d)  result  in a  breach  of or
constitute  a default or require  any  consent  under any  indenture  or loan or
credit  agreement  or any  other  agreement,  lease or  instrument  to which the
Borrower is a party or by which it or its  properties  may be bound or affected;
(e) result in, or require,  the creation or imposition of any Lien, upon or with
respect  to any  of the  properties  now  owned  or  hereafter  acquired  by the
Borrower, except for the Lien granted pursuant to the Security Agreement; or (f)
cause the Borrower (or any Significant Subsidiary or Affiliate,  as the case may
be) to be in  default  under  any  such  law,  rule,  regulation,  order,  writ,
judgment,  injunction,  decree,  determination  or award or any such  indenture,
agreement, lease or instrument.

        Section 5.03. LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENTS. Each Facility Document is,
or when  delivered  under this  Agreement  will be, a legal,  valid and  binding
obligation of the Borrower  enforceable  against the Borrower in accordance with
its  terms,  except  to the  extent  that such  enforcement  may be  limited  by
applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency and other similar laws affecting  creditors'
rights generally.

        Section 5.04.  LITIGATION.  There are no actions,  suits or  proceedings
pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,  threatened,  against or affecting
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or
arbitrator,  which  may,  in any one  case or in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        Section 5.05.  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  The consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  as at March 31, 1997,  and the
related  consolidated  income statement and statements of cash flows and changes
in stockholders'  equity of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries for
the Fiscal Year then ended,  and the accompanying  footnotes,  together with the
opinion thereon, of Deloitte & Touche, independent certified public accountants,
and the interim  consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at June 28, 1997, and the related  consolidated income statement
and statements of cash flows and changes in  stockholders'  equity for the three
month  period then  ended,  copies of which have been  furnished  to each of the
Banks,  are complete and correct and fairly  present the financial  condition of
the Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries as at such dates and the results
of the  operations  of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the
periods covered by such  statements,  all in accordance  with GAAP  consistently
applied  (subject to year end  adjustments in the case of the interim  financial
statements). There are no liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries,  fixed or contingent,  which are material but are not reflected in
the financial statements or in the notes thereto, other than liabilities arising
in the ordinary course of business since March 31, 1997. No information, exhibit
or  report  furnished  by the  Borrower  to the  Banks  in  connection  with the
negotiation of this  Agreement  contained any material  misstatement  of fact or
omitted to state a material  fact or any fact  necessary to make the  statements
contained  therein not materially  misleading.  Since March 31, 1997,  there has
been no material  adverse  change in the  condition  (financial  or  otherwise),
business,  operations or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole.

        Section  5.06.  OWNERSHIP  AND  LIENS.  Each  of the  Borrower  and  its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries has title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of
its  properties  and assets,  real and personal,  including the  properties  and
assets, and leasehold interests  reflected in the financial  statements referred
to in SECTION  5.05  (other  than any  properties  or assets  disposed of in the
ordinary course of business), and none of the properties and assets owned by the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and none of its  leasehold  interests  is
subject to any Lien, except as disclosed in such financial  statements or as may
be permitted hereunder.

        Section  5.07.   TAXES.   Each  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Significant
Subsidiaries has filed all tax returns (federal, state and local) required to be
filed and has paid all taxes,  assessments and  governmental  charges and levies
shown  thereon to be due,  including  interest and  penalties,  except for those
being  contested  in good faith and by  appropriate  proceedings,  and for which
adequate  financial  reserves  have been  established  by Borrower.  The federal
income tax  liability of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  has been audited by
the Internal  Revenue Service and has been finally  determined and satisfied for
all taxable years up to and including the year ended 1993.

        Section  5.08.  ERISA.  Each Plan,  and,  to the best  knowledge  of the
Borrower,  without making a specific  inquiry,  each  Multiemployer  Plan, is in
compliance  in all material  respects  with,  and has been  administered  in all
material  respects in compliance  with, the applicable  provisions of ERISA, the
Code and any other applicable Federal or state law, and no event or condition is
occurring or exists  concerning  which the Borrower would be under an obligation
to furnish a report to the Bank in accordance with SECTION 6.08(H) hereof. As of
the most  recent  valuation  date for each Plan  except as set forth in  EXHIBIT
5.08,  each Plan was "fully  funded",  which for  purposes of this  SECTION 5.08
shall mean that the fair market value of the assets of the Plan is not less than
the present  value of the  accrued  benefits  of all  participants  in the Plan,
computed on a Plan termination basis. To the best knowledge of the Borrower,  no
Plan has ceased being fully funded as of the date these representations are made
with respect to any Loan under this Agreement.

        Section 5.09.  SUBSIDIARIES  AND  OWNERSHIP OF STOCK.  EXHIBIT 5.09 is a
complete and accurate  list of the  Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower,  showing the
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Subsidiary and showing the
percentage  of the  Borrower's  ownership  of the  outstanding  stock  or  other
interest of each such Subsidiary.  All of the outstanding capital stock or other
interest of each such  Subsidiary  has been  validly  issued,  is fully paid and
nonassessable and is owned by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens.

        Section  5.10.  CREDIT  ARRANGEMENTS.  EXHIBIT  5.10 is a  complete  and
correct  list  of  all  credit  agreements,   indentures,  purchase  agreements,
guaranties,  Capital Leases and other  investments,  agreements and arrangements
presently in effect providing for or relating to extensions of credit (including
agreements  and  arrangements  for the  issuance  of  letters  of  credit or for
acceptance   financing)  in  respect  of  which  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is in any  manner  directly  or  contingently  obligated;  and the
maximum  principal or face amounts of the credit in  question,  outstanding  and
which can be  outstanding,  are  correctly  stated,  and all Liens of any nature
given or agreed to be given as security  therefor  are  correctly  described  or
indicated in such Exhibit. (A transaction that constitutes an Alliance Inventory
Sale is not an extension of credit  within the meaning of this  Section.) A true
and complete copy of:

        (a) the Note Agreement dated February 23, 1995, and Amendments No. 1 and
2 thereto,  (collectively,  the  "Insurance  Company  Note  Agreement")  between
Borrower and The Prudential Insurance Company of America and John Hancock Mutual
Life  Insurance  Company and of the  promissory  notes,  each of which notes was
executed   pursuant   thereto   (collectively,   the  "Insurance   Company  Loan
Documents"),  are attached as EXHIBIT 5.10(A),  and each of such documents is in
full force and effect,  (the loan transactions  described therein being referred
to in this Agreement as the "Insurance Company Financing");

        (b) the  $15,000,000  Note  Agreement  dated  September __, 1997 between
Borrower and Cayman and LTI and NYNEX and CoBank and the promissory  notes, each
of which was executed  pursuant thereto  (collectively,  the  "$15,000,000  Loan
Documents"),  are attached as EXHIBIT 5.10(B), each of such documents is in full
force and effect,  and the loan transactions  described therein (the "15,000,000
Financing") have been consummated in accordance therewith;

        (c) the Pledge, Security and Assignment Agreement,  including Amendments
No. 1 and 2 thereto (collectively,  the "Security Agreement"),  duly executed by
Borrower and the Agent,  as the Collateral  Agent named therein,  along with the
Consent and  Agreement,  in the form attached to Amendment No. 1 to the Security
Agreement  (the  "Consent and  Agreement")  and the  financing  statements  duly
executed by all parties as required therein, are attached as EXHIBIT 5.10(C);

        (d) the Intercreditor  Agreement (the "Intercreditor  Agreement"),  duly
executed by each Bank,  and by each Purchaser  under the Insurance  Company Note
Agreement,   and  by  the  Agent,  as  the  Collateral  Agent  thereunder,   and
acknowledged by Borrower, are attached as EXHIBIT 5.10(D);

        (e) an Agreement Regarding Subordination,  (the "Pillsbury Subordination
Agreement"),  duly executed by Pillsbury,  by the Agent, on behalf of the Banks,
by each Purchaser under the Insurance Company Note Agreement and by Cayman, LTI,
NYNEX and CoBank is attached as EXHIBIT 5.10(E);

        (f) an Agreement  Relating to 11 U.S.C.  ss. 1111(b),  (the "ss. 1111(b)
Agreement"),  duly executed by Pillsbury,  by the Agent, as Collateral Agent, by
each Bank, by each Purchaser under the Insurance Company Note Agreement,  and by
Cayman,  LTI,  NYNEX and  CoBank,  and agreed and  acknowledged  by  Borrower is
attached as EXHIBIT 5.10(F);

        (g)     the GE Capital Reimbursement Agreement is attached as EXHIBIT
5.10(G); and

        (h) Security Agreement dated September 15, 1997 providing for a security
interest in the  fixtures,  furniture  and  equipment  covered by the GE Capital
Liens and included in the Secured Bond Collateral;  and all financing statements
filed in any secretary of state's  office with respect to the GE Capital  Liens,
are  attached as EXHIBIT  5.10(H);  and the  description  of such  Secured  Bond
Collateral  contained in such financing  statements is in all respects identical
to the  description  of the  Secured  Bond  Collateral  contained  in all  other
financing statements filed with respect to the GE Capital Liens.

        Section  5.11.  OPERATION  OF  BUSINESS.  Each of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries possesses all licenses, permits,  franchises,  patents, copyrights,
trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, necessary to conduct its business
substantially  as now conducted and as presently  proposed to be conducted,  and
neither the  Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in violation of any valid
rights of others  with  respect to any of the  foregoing,  which  violation  may
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        Section  5.12.  HAZARDOUS  MATERIALS.  The  Borrower  and  each  of  its
Subsidiaries have obtained all permits,  licenses and other authorizations which
are required under all Environmental  Laws, except to the extent failure to have
any such permit,  license or  authorization  would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are in
compliance  with the terms and  conditions  of all such  permits,  licenses  and
authorizations,   and  are  also  in  compliance  with  all  other  limitations,
restrictions,  conditions, standards,  prohibitions,  requirements,  obligations
schedules and timetables contained in any applicable Environmental Law or in any
regulation,  code, plan, order, decree, judgment,  injunction,  notice or demand
letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder, except to the extent
failure to comply would not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

        In  addition,  (i) except as set forth in EXHIBIT 5.12 hereto,  or (ii)
except to the extent that the same has not had and may not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

        (a) No notice, notification,  demand, request for information, citation,
summons or order has been issued,  no complaint  has been filed,  no penalty has
been  assessed and no  investigation  or review is pending or  threatened by any
governmental or other entity with respect to any alleged failure by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries to have any permit, license or authorization required
in  connection  with the conduct of the  business of the  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or with respect to any generation,  treatment,  storage, recycling,
transportation,  release or disposal, or any release as defined in 42 U.S.C. ss.
9601(22)  ("Release"),  of any HAZARDOUS  MATERIALS generated by the Borrower or
any of its  Subsidiaries  and Borrower has no knowledge of any  condition  which
could  reasonably  be expected to trigger any of the above  events,  writings or
penalties;

        (b) Neither the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has handled any
Hazardous Material, other than as a generator, on any property now or previously
owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and

        (c) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries has transported or
arranged for the  transportation of any Hazardous Material to any location which
is listed on the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive  Environmental
Response,  Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), listed
for  possible  inclusion on the National  Priorities  List by the  Environmental
Protection  Agency in the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response and  Liability
Information  System as provided by 40 C.F.R.  ss.  300.5  ("CERCLIS")  or on any
similar  state  list  or  which  is the  subject  of  federal,  state  or  local
enforcement actions or other investigations which may lead to claims against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for clean-up costs,  remedial work,  damages
to natural resources or for personal injury claims,  including,  but not limited
to, claims under CERCLA.

        (d)  No  Hazardous  Material  generated  by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries has been recycled,  treated, stored, disposed of or Released by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

        (e) No oral or written notification of a Release of a Hazardous material
has been filed by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and no
property  now or  previously  owned  or  leased  by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  is listed or proposed for listing on the National  Priorities List
promulgated pursuant to CERCLA, on CERCLIS or on any similar state list of sites
requiring investigation or clean-up.

        (f) There are no Liens  arising  under or pursuant to any  Environmental
laws on any of the real property or  properties  owned or leased by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries,  and no government actions have been taken or are in
process which could subject any of such properties to such Liens and neither the
Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  would be required to place any notice or
restriction  relating to the  presence of  Hazardous  Materials  at any property
owned by it in any deed to such property.

        (g) There have been no environmental  investigations,  studies,  audits,
test,  reviews or other analyses  conducted by or which are in the possession of
the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in relation to any property or facility
now or  previously  owned or leased by the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
which have not been made available to the Banks.

        Section 5.13. NO DEFAULT ON OUTSTANDING JUDGMENTS OR ORDERS. Each of the
Borrower and its  Significant  Subsidiaries  has  satisfied  all  judgments  and
neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in default with respect to
any judgment,  writ,  injunction,  decree, law, rule or regulation of any court,
arbitrator  or  federal,  state,  municipal  or  other  governmental  authority,
commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, which
default has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        Section 5.14. NO DEFAULTS ON OTHER AGREEMENTS.  To Borrower's knowledge,
neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to any  indenture,
loan or  credit  agreement  or any lease or other  agreement  or  instrument  or
subject to any  charter  or  corporate  restriction  which  Borrower  reasonably
anticipates will have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any of
its Subsidiaries is in default in any respect in the performance,  observance or
fulfillment of any of the obligations,  covenants or conditions contained in any
agreement or instrument  material to its business to which it is a party,  which
default has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        Section 5.15.  LABOR DISPUTES AND ACTS OF GOD.  Neither the business nor
the properties of the Borrower or of any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any
fire,  explosion,  accident,  strike,  lockout or other labor dispute,  drought,
storm,  hail,  earthquake,  embargo,  act of God or of the public enemy or other
casualty  (whether or not covered by insurance),  which has or may reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        Section 5.16. GOVERNMENTAL  REGULATION.  Neither the Borrower nor any of
its Significant  Subsidiaries is subject to regulation  under the Public Utility
Holding  Company Act of 1935,  the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, the Federal
Power  Act  or  any  statute  or  regulation   limiting  its  ability  to  incur
indebtedness for money borrowed as contemplated hereby.

        Section 5.17.  PARTNERSHIPS.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Significant Subsidiaries is a partner in any partnership.

        Section  5.18.  NO  FORFEITURE.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any of its
Subsidiaries  or  Affiliates  is  engaged  in or  proposes  to be engaged in the
conduct  of  any  business  or  activity  which  could  result  in a  Forfeiture
Proceeding  and no  Forfeiture  Proceeding  against  any of them is  pending  or
threatened.

        Section  5.19.  PILLSBURY  TRANSACTIONS.  The Pillsbury  Asset  Purchase
Agreement,  the Pillsbury  Alliance Agreement and the Pillsbury Note, a true and
complete copy of each of which is attached to this  Agreement as EXHIBITS  5.19,
5.19(A) and 5.19(B),  respectively,  the Pillsbury Subordination  Agreement, the
ss.  1111(b)  Agreement and the Consent and Agreement have been duly and validly
authorized,  executed and delivered by each of the parties  thereto  (except the
Agent and the Banks),  are in full force and effect and are  enforceable  by the
Agent and the Banks,  as the case may be, in  accordance  with their  respective
terms,  except to the extent that such  enforcement may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency  and other  similar  laws  affecting  creditors'  rights
generally  and by  general  principles  of  equity.  Neither  Borrower  nor,  to
Borrower's  knowledge,  Pillsbury or Grand  Metropolitan plc has in any material
respect failed to perform or otherwise breached or defaulted under any provision
of any of the Pillsbury Documents, which breach or default has not been cured or
waived with the written consent of the Banks; no event of default,  or condition
or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of
default,  under any of the Pillsbury Documents,  has occurred and is continuing;
no  amount of  principal  or  interest  has been  paid,  credited  or  otherwise
satisfied (whether by payment, offset or any other method) prior to the due date
thereof,  or in violation of the  Pillsbury  Note or of this  Agreement;  and no
notice of  termination  has been given,  and no event has  occurred  which would
entitle either party to terminate,  under Article XIX of the Pillsbury  Alliance
Agreement.

                        ARTICLE 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

        So long as any of the Notes shall  remain  unpaid or any Bank shall have
any Commitment under this Agreement, the Borrower shall:

        Section 6.01.  MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE.  Except as otherwise  permitted
pursuant  to this  Agreement,  preserve  and  maintain,  and  cause  each of its
Significant  Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain,  its corporate existence and
good standing in the jurisdiction of its  incorporation,  and qualify and remain
qualified;  and cause each of its Subsidiaries to qualify and remain  qualified,
as a foreign  corporation in each  jurisdiction in which such  qualification  is
required, except where the failure to so qualify will not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        Section  6.02.  CONDUCT  OF  BUSINESS.  Continue,  and cause each of its
Significant  Subsidiaries  to  continue,  to  engage in a  business  of the same
general  type as conducted  by it on the date of this  Agreement,  except as set
forth in EXHIBIT 7.06.

        Section 6.03. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.  Maintain and cause each of its
Significant  Subsidiaries  to  maintain  all of its  properties,  (tangible  and
intangible)  necessary  in the proper  conduct of its  business in good  working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

        Section 6.04. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS. Keep adequate records and books of
account,  in  which  complete  entries  will be made in  accordance  with  GAAP,
reflecting  all  financial  transactions  of the  Borrower  and its  Significant
Subsidiaries.

        Section 6.05. MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE.  Maintain, and cause each of its
Significant  Subsidiaries  to maintain,  insurance  with  financially  sound and
reputable  insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such
risks as are  usually  carried  by  companies  engaged  in the same or a similar
business and similarly  situated,  which  insurance  may provide for  reasonable
deductibility from coverage thereof.

        Section  6.06.  COMPLIANCE  WITH  LAWS.  Comply,  and cause  each of its
Significant Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all applicable
laws,  rules,  regulations  and orders,  such  compliance  to  include,  without
limitation,  paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and
governmental  charges  imposed  upon it or upon its  property,  except for those
being  contested  in good  faith and by  appropriate  proceedings  and for which
adequate financial reserves have been established by Borrower.

        Section  6.07.  RIGHT  OF  INSPECTION.  On  reasonable  notice,  at  any
reasonable time during normal  business hours and from time to time,  permit the
Agent or any Bank or any agent or  representative  thereof,  to examine and make
copies and  abstracts  from the  records  and books of account of, and visit the
properties  of, the  Borrower  and any of its  Subsidiaries,  and to discuss the
affairs,  finances and accounts of the Borrower and any such Subsidiary with any
of their  respective  officers  and  directors  and the  Borrower's  independent
accountants.

        Section 6.08.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  Furnish directly to each of the
Banks:

        (a) as soon as  available  and in any event within 90 days after the end
of each  Fiscal  Year of the  Borrower,  a  consolidated  balance  sheet  of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and
a  consolidated  income  statement  and  statements of cash flows and changes in
stockholders' equity of the Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries for such
Fiscal  Year,  all in  reasonable  detail and  stating in  comparative  form the
respective  consolidated  figures for the  corresponding  date and period in the
prior Fiscal Year and all prepared in accordance with GAAP and accompanied by an
opinion  thereon  acceptable  to the Agent and each of the Banks by  Deloitte  &
Touche or other  independent  accountants of national  standing  selected by the
Borrower;  provided,  however,  that delivery  (within the time period specified
above) of the Annual  Report of the  Borrower  on Form 10-K for such Fiscal Year
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the
requirements of this SECTION 6.08(A).

        (b) as soon as  available  and in any event within 45 days after the end
of each of the first three Fiscal  Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower,
a consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries
as of the end of such Fiscal  Quarter and a  consolidated  income  statement and
statements of cash flows and changes in  stockholders'  equity,  of the Borrower
and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the period  commencing at the end of the
previous  Fiscal  Year and ending with the end of such  Fiscal  Quarter,  all in
reasonable  detail and stating in comparative  form the respective  consolidated
figures for the  corresponding  date and period in the previous  Fiscal Year and
all prepared in accordance with GAAP and certified by a Financial Officer of the
Borrower (subject to year-end adjustments); provided, however, that (i) delivery
(within the time period specified above) of the Quarterly Report of the Borrower
on Form 10-Q for such Fiscal  Quarter  filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this SECTION 6.08(B).

        (c)  promptly  upon  receipt  thereof,  notice of  receipt of any report
submitted to the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  by independent  certified
public   accountants  in  connection  with  any  examination  of  the  financial
statements  of the  Borrower or any such  Subsidiary  made by such  accountants,
which  report is  addressed  to the Board of  Directors  of the  Borrower or any
committee  thereof;  and, on the request of any Bank, the  opportunity  for such
Bank to review such report at the offices of the Borrower;

        (d)  simultaneously  with  the  delivery  of  the  financial  statements
referred to above,  a  certificate  of a Financial  Officer of the  Borrower (i)
certifying  that to the best of his knowledge no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is  continuing,  a statement  as to the nature  thereof and the action  which is
proposed  to  be  taken  with  respect  thereto,   (ii)  and  with  computations
demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in ARTICLE 8;

        (e) simultaneously with the delivery of the annual financial  statements
referred  to in  SECTION  6.08(A),  a  certificate  of  the  independent  public
accountants  who  audited  such  statements  to the effect  that,  in making the
examination  necessary for the audit of such  statements,  they have obtained no
knowledge  of any  condition  or event which  constitutes  a Default or Event of
Default,  or if such  accountants  shall  have  obtained  knowledge  of any such
condition or event,  specifying in such certificate each such condition or event
of which they have knowledge and the nature and status thereof;

        (f)  promptly  after the  commencement  thereof,  notice of all actions,
suits, and proceedings before any court or governmental department,  commission,
board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, (i) affecting the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  which,  if  determined  adversely  to the
Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or (ii) relating to the enforceability,  validity or enforcement
of any provision of any of the Pillsbury Documents;

        (g) as soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after  obtaining
actual knowledge of the occurrence of each Default or Event of Default a written
notice  setting  forth the  details of such  Default or Event of Default and the
action which is proposed to be taken by the Borrower with respect thereto;

        (h) as soon as  possible,  and in any event  within  ten days  after the
Borrower has actual  knowledge  that any of the events or  conditions  specified
below with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer  Plan have occurred or exist and
that such  events  have had or may  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect, a statement signed by a senior financial officer of the Borrower
setting forth details respecting such event or condition and the action, if any,
which the Borrower or its ERISA Affiliate  proposes to take with respect thereto
(and a copy of any report or notice  required  to be filed with or given to PBGC
by the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate with respect to such event or condition):

                (i) any  reportable  event,  as defined  in  Section  4043(b) of
        ERISA,  with respect to a Plan,  as to which PBGC has not by  regulation
        waived the  requirement of Section  4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified
        within 30 days of the occurrence of such event  (provided that a failure
        to meet the  minimum  funding  standard  of  Section  412 of the Code or
        Section 302 of ERISA including,  without limitation, the failure to make
        on or before its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of
        the  Code or  Section  302(e)  of  ERISA,  shall be a  reportable  event
        regardless  of the  issuance of any waivers in  accordance  with Section
        412(d) of the Code) and any request for a waiver under Section 412(d) of
        the Code for any Plan;

                (ii) the  distribution  under  Section  4041 of ERISA of a
        notice of intent to  terminate  any Plan or any action  taken by the
        Borrower  or an ERISA Affiliate to terminate any Plan;

                (iii) the institution by PBGC of proceedings  under Section 4042
        of ERISA for the  termination  of, or the  appointment  of a trustee  to
        administer,  any  Plan,  or the  receipt  by the  Borrower  or any ERISA
        Affiliate  of a notice  from a  Multiemployer  Plan that such action has
        been taken by PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan;

                (iv) the  complete or partial  withdrawal  from a  Multiemployer
        Plan by the  Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate  that results in liability
        under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA (including the obligation to satisfy
        secondary  liability as a result of a purchaser  default) or the receipt
        of the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate  of notice from a  Multiemployer
        Plan that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241
        or 4245 of ERISA or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under
        Section 4041A of ERISA;

                (v) the  institution of a proceeding by a fiduciary or any
        Multiemployer  Plan against the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate to
        enforce Section 515 of ERISA, which proceeding is not dismissed within
        30 days;

                (vi) the adoption of an  amendment to any Plan that  pursuant to
        Section  401(a)(29)  of the Code or Section 307 of ERISA would result in
        the loss of tax-exempt  status of the trust of which such Plan is a part
        if the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate  fails to timely provide  security
        to the Plan in accordance with the provisions of said Sections;

                (vii) any event or  circumstance  exists which may reasonably be
        expected to constitute  grounds for the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate
        to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA or under Sections  412(c)(11)
        or 412(n) of the Code with respect to any Plan; and

                (viii) the  Unfunded  Benefit  Liabilities  of one or more Plans
increase after the date of this Agreement.

        (i) promptly  after the furnishing  thereof,  copies of any statement or
report furnished to any other party pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan
or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the
Banks  pursuant to any other clause of this SECTION  6.08,  provided  that,  the
Borrower  shall not be required,  pursuant to this SECTION  6.08(I),  to furnish
copies of statements or reports delivered pursuant to paragraphs 5A(1)(iv), (v),
and (vi) of the Insurance Company Note Agreement;

        (j) promptly  after the sending or filing  thereof,  copies of all proxy
statements,  financial  statements  and reports which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries sends to its stockholders,  and copies of all regular, periodic and
special reports, and all registration  statements which the Borrower or any such
Subsidiary files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental
authority  which may be substituted  therefor,  or with any national  securities
exchange;

        (k)  promptly  after the  commencement  thereof  or  promptly  after the
Borrower knows of the  commencement or threat thereof,  notice of any Forfeiture
Proceeding; and

        (l) as soon as available  and in any event within twenty (20) days after
the end of each calendar  month,  a Borrowing Base  Certificate,  in the form of
EXHIBIT  6.08(L)  as at the last  day of such  month,  and from  time to time as
requested by the Agent or the Required Banks (but not more frequently than twice
in any Fiscal Year),  a report of an independent  collateral  auditor (which may
be, or be  affiliated  with,  one of the Banks)  with  respect  to the  Eligible
Receivables and Eligible Inventory  Components included in the Borrowing Base as
at the end of any month,  which report shall indicate that,  based upon a review
by such auditors of the Eligible  Receivables  (including,  without  limitation,
verification  with  respect to the  amount,  aging,  identity  and credit of the
respective  account  debtors and the billing  practices  of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries)   and   Eligible   Inventory   (including,   without   limitation,
verification as to the value,  location and respective  types),  the information
set forth in the Borrowing Base Certificate  delivered by the Borrower as at the
end of such month is accurate and complete in all material respects.

        (m) within 10 days after the date as of which  financial  information is
required to be  delivered  pursuant to SECTION  6.08 (A) AND (B), a report as of
the end of the Fiscal  Quarter  covered by such  financial  information  setting
forth  Borrower's  sales,  for such Fiscal  Quarter and for the current  year to
date, and inventory, as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, separately for all of
its Green Giant brand products and for all other products.

        (n) such other  information  respecting  the  condition  or  operations,
financial or otherwise,  of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as the Agent
or any Bank may from time to time reasonably request.

        Section  6.09.  PILLSBURY  DOCUMENTS/INSURANCE  COMPANY LOAN  DOCUMENTS.
Comply in all material respects with all of its material  obligations under each
of the Pillsbury Documents and the Insurance Company Loan Documents,  and notify
the Agent as soon as possible, and in any event within twenty days, with respect
to Pillsbury  Documents,  and within ten days with respect to Insurance  Company
Loan  Documents,  after  the  Borrower  knows or has  reason  to know (i) of any
material failure to perform,  breach or default by Pillsbury or Borrower, or any
other event of default,  under any of the  Pillsbury  Documents,  or (ii) of any
event of default,  or any event or condition  which with notice or lapse of time
or both would constitute an event of default,  under the Insurance  Company Loan
Documents.

        Section  6.10.  $15,000,000  LOAN  DOCUMENTS.  Comply  in  all  material
respects with all of its material obligations under each of the $15,000,000 Loan
Documents, and notify the Agent as soon as possible, and in any event within ten
days,  after the  Borrower  has reason to know of any event of  default,  or any
event or condition  which with notice or lapse of time or both would  constitute
an event of default, under the $15,000,000 Loan Documents.


                         ARTICLE 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

        So long as any of the Notes shall  remain  unpaid or any Bank shall have
any Commitment under this Agreement, the Borrower shall not:

        Section 7.01.  DEBT.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist, or
permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist
any Debt, except:

        (a) Debt of the Borrower under this Agreement or the Notes;

        (b) Debt described in EXHIBIT 5.10,  including  renewals,  extensions or
refinancings  thereof,  provided  that the  principal  amount  thereof  does not
increase;

        (c) Debt of the Borrower subordinated on terms satisfactory to the Banks
to the Borrower's obligations under this Agreement and the Notes;

        (d) Debt of the Borrower to any such  Subsidiary;  or Debt of any
Subsidiary to the Borrower or another such  Subsidiary,  to the extent permitted
by SECTION 7.04;

        (e) Debt in respect of letters of credit issued for the account of the
Borrower or any such Subsidiary in an aggregate face amount  outstanding at any
time of up to $50,000,000; and

        (f) Additional Debt for borrowed money,  provided (i) that the aggregate
amount of  "priority"  Debt does not exceed  10% of  Consolidated  Tangible  Net
Worth; and (ii) that Borrower shall not be permitted to incur or suffer to exist
Debt under the GE Capital Reimbursement  Agreement related to any GE Capital LOC
issued with respect to any issue of Secured Bonds unless any outstanding ABN LOC
related to such  issue of Secured  Bonds is  simultaneously  canceled,  with the
effect that all  obligations of Borrower under the ABN  Reimbursement  Agreement
related to any such ABN LOC, and any Lien  securing such  obligations,  are also
released  and of no further  force or effect.  For the  purposes of this SECTION
7.01(F),  "priority" Debt shall mean all unsecured  Funded Debt, and all secured
Debt, of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, other than (x) Debt secured
by Liens  permitted under clauses (a) through (i) and clause (k) of SECTION 7.03
and (xx) Debt listed on EXHIBIT 5.10,  without  giving effect to any  amendment,
modification,  supplement,  increase,  extension, renewal or refunding after the
Closing Date.

        Section 7.02. GUARANTIES,  ETC. Assume, guarantee,  endorse or otherwise
be or become  directly or contingently  responsible or liable,  or permit any of
its  Subsidiaries  to  assume,  guarantee,  endorse  or  otherwise  be or become
directly or indirectly responsible or liable (including,  but not limited to, an
agreement to purchase any  obligation,  stock,  assets,  goods or services or to
supply or advance any funds,  assets,  goods or  services,  or an  agreement  to
maintain or cause such Person to maintain a minimum working capital or net worth
or  otherwise  to assure  the  creditors  of any  Person  against  loss) for the
obligations  of  any  Person,  except  (i)  for  guaranties  by  endorsement  of
negotiable  instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the
ordinary course of business,  and (ii) for Debt of the kind described above that
is permitted under either SECTION 7.01 or SECTION 7.04.

        Section 7.03. LIENS. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, or permit
any of its Subsidiaries to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist, any Lien,
upon or with respect to any of its properties,  now owned or hereafter acquired,
except:

        (a)  Liens  pursuant  to  the  Security  Agreement  securing  the  Loans
hereunder; the Insurance Company Financing and the $15,000,000 Financing;

        (b) Liens for taxes or assessments or other government charges or levies
if not yet due and payable or if due and payable if they are being  contested in
good faith by appropriate  proceedings  and for which  appropriate  reserves are
maintained;

        (c) Liens imposed by law, such as mechanic's, materialmen's, landlord's,
warehousemen's   and  carrier's  Liens,   and  other  similar  Liens,   securing
obligations  incurred in the ordinary  course of business which are not past due
for more than 30 days, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established;

        (d) Liens under workers' compensation,  unemployment  insurance,  social
security or similar legislation (other than ERISA);

        (e)  Liens,  deposits  or pledges  to secure  the  performance  of bids,
tenders,  contracts  (other than  contracts  for the  payment of money),  leases
(permitted under the terms of this Agreement),  public or statutory obligations,
surety,  stay, appeal,  indemnity,  performance or other similar bonds, or other
similar obligations arising in the ordinary course of business;

        (f) judgment and other similar Liens for amounts  aggregating  less than
$5,000,000  arising in  connection  with court  proceedings;  provided  that the
execution  or other  enforcement  of such  Liens is  effectively  stayed and the
claims  secured  thereby  are  being  actively  contested  in good  faith and by
appropriate proceedings;

        (g)   easements,   rights-of-way,   restrictions   and   other   similar
encumbrances  which,  in the  aggregate,  do not  materially  interfere with the
occupation,  use and  enjoyment  by the Borrower or any such  Subsidiary  of the
property or assets  encumbered  thereby in the normal  course of its business or
materially impair the value of the property subject thereto;

        (h) Liens  securing  obligations of such a Subsidiary to the Borrower or
another such Subsidiary;

        (i) Liens pursuant to the security agreement and mortgages  described in
clause  (vi) of the  definition  of  Pillsbury  Documents,  securing  Borrower's
obligations under the Pillsbury  Documents,  but not the extension of such Liens
to other property,  or the granting of such Liens to secure the extension of the
maturity, refunding or modification of such obligations, in whole or in part; or

        (j) purchase money Liens on any property  hereafter acquired or any Lien
on property existing at the time of such acquisition, whether or not assumed, or
a Lien hereafter incurred in connection with any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement or a Capital Lease; provided that:

                (i) any property  subject to any of the foregoing is acquired by
        the  Borrower  or any such  Subsidiary  in the  ordinary  course  of its
        business and the Lien on any such property is created  contemporaneously
        with or prior to such acquisition;

                (ii) the obligation  secured by any Lien so created,  assumed or
        existing  shall not  exceed  100% of the  lesser of cost or fair  market
        value as of the time of acquisition of the property  covered  thereby to
        the Borrower or such Subsidiary acquiring the same;

                (iii)  each such  Lien  shall  attach  only to the  property  so
acquired and fixed improvements thereon; and

                (iv) the  obligations  secured by such Lien are permitted by the
provisions of SECTION 7.01; and

        (k) Existing Liens described in EXHIBIT 7.03(K), but not the extension
of such Liens to other property,  or the granting of such Liens to secure the
refunding of the obligations secured thereby;

provided,  however,  that the Borrower shall not be permitted to create,  incur,
assume or suffer to exist any GE Capital  Liens  related to any issue of Secured
Bond unless any Lien in favor of ABN Amro Bank securing  Borrower's  obligations
under the ABN Reimbursement Agreement related to such issue of Secured Bonds has
been released and is of no further force or effect.

        Section 7.04.  INVESTMENTS.  Make, or permit any of its  Subsidiaries to
make, any loan or advance to any Person,  (including any Subsidiary) or purchase
or otherwise  acquire,  or permit any such  Subsidiary  to purchase or otherwise
acquire, any capital stock, assets, obligations or other securities of, make any
capital contribution to, or otherwise invest in, or acquire any interest in, any
Person,  except:  (a) direct  obligations of the United States of America or any
agency thereof with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition;
(b)  commercial  paper of a domestic  issuer  rated at least "A-1" by Standard &
Poor's Corporation or "P-1" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; (c) certificates
of deposit denominated in Dollars,  with maturities of one year or less from the
date of acquisition  and issued (i) by any Bank or (ii) by any  commercial  bank
organized  under the laws of the United  States,  or any foreign Bank  operating
within the United  States of America,  or any Canadian  bank (in any case having
capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or the Canadian dollar equivalent,
and a short term debt  rating of A-1 or P-1 and a long term debt  rating of A or
higher,  or with respect to any Canadian bank, the rating  equivalent  thereof);
(d) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts (created in
the ordinary course of business)  owing to the Borrower or any such  Subsidiary;
(e) any Acceptable  Acquisition  permitted by SECTION  7.10;(f) capital stock of
Moog,  Inc.  with  a  cost  basis  of  $716,225;  and  (g)  investments  in  the
obligations,  stock or  securities  of any other  Person,  provided  that (i) no
amount so invested  after the date  hereof may exceed the amount then  available
for such purposes pursuant to CLAUSE (D) of SECTION 7.05 and (ii) Borrower shall
not purchase  after the Closing Date any Secured  Bonds or any other  industrial
development  bonds,  or industrial  development  revenue  bonds,  issued for the
benefit of Borrower.

        Section 7.05. DIVIDENDS. Declare or pay any dividends, purchase, redeem,
retire or otherwise  acquire for value any of its capital stock now or hereafter
outstanding,  or make any  distribution  of assets to its  stockholders  as such
whether in cash,  assets or in  obligations  of the  Borrower,  or  allocate  or
otherwise set apart any sum for the payment of any dividend or distribution  on,
or for the  purchase,  redemption  or  retirement  of any shares of its  capital
stock,  or make any other  distribution  by reduction of capital or otherwise in
respect of any shares of its capital stock or permit any of its  Subsidiaries to
purchase or  otherwise  acquire  for value any stock of the  Borrower or another
such Subsidiary, except that: (a) the Borrower may declare and deliver dividends
and make distributions  payable solely in common stock of the Borrower;  (b) the
Borrower  may  purchase or  otherwise  acquire  shares of its  capital  stock by
exchange for, or out of the proceeds  received from a  substantially  concurrent
issue  of new  shares  of,  its  capital  stock;  (c)  Borrower  may pay in cash
semi-annual  dividends on its 6% Cumulative  Preferred Stock, par value $.25 per
share (200,000 shares  outstanding)  and on its 10% cumulative  Preferred Stock,
par value $.25 per share  (807,240  shares  outstanding)  that are  accrued  but
unpaid as of the Closing Date, in the amount of $34,771.50  ($11,590.50  accrued
as of each January 1, 1996, July 1, 1996, and January 1, 1997), and on and after
July 1, 1997 Borrower may pay in cash future  semi-annual  dividends on the same
shares at the same rate;  and (d)  Borrower  may declare and pay cash  dividends
with respect to, and purchase or redeem,  the shares of its outstanding  capital
stock,  provided  that no Default or Event of  Default  then  exists or would be
created thereby and provided  further that,  after giving effect to any proposed
cash  dividend,  investment  under  CLAUSE (G) of SECTION  7.04,  or purchase or
redemption  of  shares,  the  total  of (i) the  aggregate  amount  of all  cash
dividends  and other cash  distributions  declared  or paid after July  31,1994,
including all  dividends on the shares  described in CLAUSE (C) of this Section,
payment of which is permitted  by such clause  (regardless  of whether  actually
paid),  plus (ii) the aggregate amount of investments made after July 31,1994 of
the kind  described in CLAUSE (G) of SECTION 7.04,  plus (iii) the excess of the
aggregate amount expended, directly or indirectly,  after July 31, 1994, for the
redemption,  purchase or other  acquisition  of any shares of its stock over the
aggregate  amount  received  after July 31, 1994 as the net cash proceeds of the
sale of any shares of its stock, shall not exceed the sum of $1,000,000 plus 50%
(or minus 100% in the case of a deficit) of the net income of the  Borrower  and
its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as  determined  on  a  consolidated  basis  in
accordance  with  GAAP,  for  the  period  commencing  on  August  1,  1994  and
terminating  at the end of the last  Fiscal  Quarter  preceding  the date of any
proposed dividend declaration or payment, investment, or purchase or redemption,
as the case may be. There shall not be included in the computations under CLAUSE
(D) of this Section,  (x) dividends paid, or distributions made, in stock of the
Borrower;  or (xx) exchanges of stock of one or more classes of the Borrower for
other  stock of the  Borrower,  except to the extent that cash or other value is
involved in such exchange.

        Section 7.06. SALE OF ASSETS. Sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise
dispose of, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell, lease,  assign,  transfer
or  otherwise  dispose  of, any of its now owned or  hereafter  acquired  assets
(including,  without  limitation,  shares  of  stock  and  indebtedness  of such
Subsidiaries,  receivables and leasehold  interests),  except: (a) for inventory
disposed of in the ordinary course of business;  (b) for sales of inventory that
qualify as Alliance  Inventory Sales;  (c) for the sale or other  disposition of
assets no longer  used or useful in the  conduct of its  business;  (d) that any
such Subsidiary may sell, lease, assign, or otherwise transfer its assets to the
Borrower;  (e)  that  Borrower  may  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of  for  fair
consideration,  in the judgment of Borrower's Board of Directors,  all or any of
the shares of Moog,  Inc.  described in CLAUSE (F) of SECTION 7.04,  the Secured
Bonds  presently  owned by Borrower and described in EXHIBIT 7.06, and the other
properties described in EXHIBIT 7.06; and (f) for other assets, provided that as
of any  date,  the  aggregate  net  value of all other  assets  so  disposed  of
subsequent to the date hereof constitutes less than 10% of Consolidated Tangible
Net Worth as of the end of the Fiscal Year then most recently ended, and that as
of the date of any disposition, the other assets so disposed of contributed less
than 10% of the net income of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, for any of the three
Fiscal Years then most recently ended.

        Section 7.07. STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES,  ETC. Sell or otherwise  dispose of
any shares of capital stock of any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries,  except in
connection  with a transaction  permitted under SECTION 7.10, or permit any such
Subsidiary  to  issue  any  additional  shares  of  its  capital  stock,  except
directors' qualifying shares.

        Section 7.08. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.  Enter into any transaction,
including, without limitation, the purchase, sale or exchange of property or the
rendering of any service,  with any Affiliate or permit any of its  Subsidiaries
to enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, the purchase, sale
or exchange of property or the  rendering  of any service,  with any  Affiliate,
except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable  requirements of
the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's  business and upon fair and reasonable terms
no less  favorable  to the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  than would obtain in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

        Section 7.09. MERGERS,  ETC. Merge or consolidate with, or sell, assign,
lease or  otherwise  dispose of  (whether in one  transaction  or in a series of
transactions)  all or  substantially  all of its  assets  (whether  now owned or
hereafter  acquired) to, any Person,  or acquire all or substantially all of the
assets or the  business of any Person (or enter into any  agreement to do any of
the foregoing),  or permit any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries to do so except
that: (a) any such Subsidiary may merge into or transfer assets to the Borrower;
(b) any  Subsidiary  may  merge  into or  consolidate  with or  transfer  all or
substantially  all of its assets to any other  Subsidiary;  (c) the Borrower may
effect any  Acceptable  Acquisition  permitted by SECTION 7.10; and (d) Borrower
may dispose of assets as permitted pursuant to SECTION 7.06.

        Section 7.10.  ACQUISITIONS.  Without the prior written consent of the
Required Banks,  which consent may not be unreasonably  withheld, make any
Acquisition other than an Acceptable Acquisition.

        "Acceptable Acquisition" means any separate individual Acquisition which
has been either (a) approved by the Board of Directors of the corporation  which
is the  subject  of such  Acquisition  or (b)  recommended  by such Board to the
shareholders  of such  corporation,  and in each case (i) does not  involve  the
acquisition of fixed and intangible  assets whose purchase price aggregates more
than  $10,000,000,  and (ii) is made under  circumstances in which no Default or
Event of Default will either exist or result therefrom, and (iii) does not cause
the aggregate  purchase price of all Acquisitions made in any one Fiscal Year to
exceed $25,000,000.

        "Acquisition"  means any  transaction  pursuant to which the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires equity securities (or warrants,  options or
other  rights to acquire  such  securities)  of any  corporation  other than the
Borrower or any  corporation  which is not then a  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower,
pursuant to a solicitation  of tenders  therefor,  or in one or more  negotiated
block,  market  or  other  transactions  not  involving  a  tender  offer,  or a
combination of any of the foregoing,  or (b) makes any  corporation a Subsidiary
of the Borrower,  or causes any such  corporation to be merged into the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries, in any case pursuant to a merger, purchase of assets
or any  reorganization  providing for the delivery or issuance to the holders of
such corporation's then outstanding securities, in exchange for such securities,
of  cash  or  securities  of the  Borrower  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries,  or a
combination  thereof,  or (c) purchases all or substantially all of the business
or assets of any corporation.

        Section 7.11. NO ACTIVITIES LEADING TO FORFEITURE.  Neither the Borrower
nor any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  or  Affiliates  shall  engage  in the
conduct  of  any  business  or  activity  which  could  result  in a  Forfeiture
Proceeding.

        Section  7.12. NO PREPAYMENT  OF INSURANCE  COMPANY  FINANCING.  Pay any
amount of principal or interest owed  pursuant to any of the  Insurance  Company
Loan  Documents,  or  permit  it to be paid,  credited  or  otherwise  satisfied
(whether by payment,  offset or any other  method and  whether by  voluntary  or
mandatory prepayment or otherwise) prior to the regularly scheduled payment date
therefor set forth in the Insurance  Company Loan Documents,  as the same may be
amended as permitted  under  SECTION  7.13,  provided that (i) Borrower may make
such  prepayments  with the proceeds of  refinancings  or of  replacement  loans
borrowed  from the same  lenders,  as long as the maturity  date thereof  occurs
after the Termination Date, and (ii) in addition,  Borrower may make unscheduled
prepayments which, when added to any prepayments made pursuant to CLAUSE (II) of
SECTION  7.14,  total not more than  $12,500,000  in any Fiscal Year, as long as
Borrower  complies  with  SECTION  2.03 and no Default or Event of Default  then
exists or would result therefrom.

        Section 7.13.  AMENDMENT OF PILLSBURY  DOCUMENTS/ INSURANCE COMPANY LOAN
DOCUMENTS.  Without the express prior written consent of the Required Banks, (i)
agree to any  alteration  or  amendment  of any of the  Insurance  Company  Loan
Documents,  or any replacement  therefor  resulting from a prepayment  permitted
pursuant to SECTION  7.12,  that  changes the  maturity  dates of the loans made
thereunder to any new maturity  date that occurs on or prior to the  Termination
Date; or (ii) amend,  modify,  supplement or waive any term,  condition or other
provision of the Pillsbury Note, the security  agreement and mortgages  referred
to in CLAUSE (VI) of the definition of Pillsbury  Documents (except for mortgage
modifications  contemplated  by SECTION  10.06 of the Pillsbury  Asset  Purchase
Agreement or any amendment which reduces  indebtedness  under the Pillsbury Note
as a result of  forgiveness  by Pillsbury or provision for conversion of some or
all of that indebtedness into equity securities of Borrower),  or Article XIX or
any other  material  provision,  of the Pillsbury  Alliance  Agreement  except a
modification or waiver for the purpose of permitting an Alliance Inventory Sale;
or (iii)  consent,  pursuant  to the third  sentence of the first  paragraph  of
SECTION 22.1 of the Pillsbury Alliance Agreement,  to an assignment by Pillsbury
of the Pillsbury  Alliance Agreement to an assignee that does not have long term
debt that is rated BBB or better by  Standard  and Poors  Corporation  or Baa or
better by Moody's Investor Services, Inc.

        Section 7.14. NO PREPAYMENT OF $15,000,000 FINANCING.  Pay any amount of
principal or interest owed  pursuant to any of the  $15,000,000  Financing  Loan
Documents,  or permit to be paid,  credited or otherwise  satisfied  (whether by
payment,  offset or any other  method and  whether  by  voluntary  or  mandatory
prepayment or otherwise) prior to the regularly  scheduled payment date therefor
set forth in the  $15,000,000  Loan  Documents,  as the same may be  amended  as
permitted  under  SECTION  7.15,  provided  that  (i)  Borrower  may  make  such
prepayments  with the proceeds of refinancings or of replacement  loans borrowed
from the same  lenders,  as long as the maturity  date thereof  occurs after the
Termination   Date,  and  (ii)  in  addition,   Borrower  may  make  unscheduled
prepayments which, when added to any prepayments made pursuant to CLAUSE (II) of
SECTION  7.12,  total not more than  $12,500,000  in any Fiscal Year, as long as
Borrower  complies  with  SECTION  2.03 and no Default or Event of Default  then
exists or would result therefrom.

        Section  7.15.  AMENDMENT OF  $15,000,000  LOAN  DOCUMENTS.  Without the
express prior written consent of the Required Banks,  agree to any alteration or
amendment of any of the $15,000,000 Loan Documents,  or any replacement therefor
resulting from a prepayment permitted pursuant to SECTION 7.14, that changes the
maturity dates of the loans made thereunder to any new maturity date that occurs
on or prior to the Termination Date.


                         ARTICLE 8. FINANCIAL COVENANTS

        So long as any of the Notes shall  remain  unpaid or any Bank shall have
any Commitment under this Agreement:

        Section 8.01.  MINIMUM WORKING  CAPITAL.  The Borrower shall maintain at
the end of each Fiscal  Quarter an excess of  Consolidated  Current  Assets over
Consolidated  Current  Liabilities  of not less than the amount set forth in the
following table:

                        FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                     AMOUNT

                           06/28/97                           $  90,000,000
                           09/27/97                           $  90,000,000
                           12/27/97                           $  90,000,000
                           03/31/98                           $  90,000,000
                           06/27/98                           $ 100,000,000
                           09/26/98                           $ 100,000,000
                           12/26/98                           $ 100,000,000
                           03/31/99                           $ 100,000,000
                           06/28/99                           $ 110,000,000

         Section 8.02.  MINIMUM  TANGIBLE NET WORTH. The Borrower shall maintain
at the end of each Fiscal Quarter a Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth of not less
than the amount set forth in the following table:

                  FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                        AMOUNT

                           06/28/97                           $82,000,000
                           09/27/97                           $86,000,000
                           12/27/97                           $86,000,000
                           03/31/98                           $90,000,000
                           06/27/98                           $90,000,000
                           09/26/98                           $90,000,000
                           12/26/98                           $90,000,000
                           03/31/99                           $90,000,000
                           06/28/99                           $90,000,000

         Section 8.03.  CURRENT RATIO. The Borrower shall maintain at the end of
each  Fiscal  Quarter a ratio of  Consolidated  Current  Assets to  Consolidated
Current Liabilities of not less than that set forth in the following table:

                  FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                             RATIO

                           06/28/97                                1.50:1
                           09/27/97                                1.25:1
                           12/27/97                                1.25:1
                           03/31/98                                1.50:1
                           06/27/98                                1.50:1
                           09/26/98                                1.25:1
                           12/26/98                                1.25:1
                           03/31/99                                1.25:1
                           06/28/99                                1.25:1

         Section 8.04. LEVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower shall maintain at the end of
each Fiscal Quarter a ratio of  Consolidated  Total  Liabilities to Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth of not greater than that set forth in the following table:

                  FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                             RATIO

                           06/28/97                                5.00:1
                           09/27/97                                6.00:1
                           12/27/97                                4.75:1
                           03/31/98                                4.00:1
                           06/27/98                                4.75:1
                           09/26/98                                6.00:1
                           12/26/98                                4.75:1
                           03/31/99                                4.00:1
                           06/28/99                                4.75:1

         Section 8.05.  INTEREST  COVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower shall maintain as
of the end of each  Fiscal  Quarter,  for the four  Fiscal  Quarter  period then
ended, a ratio of Consolidated  EBITDA to Interest Expense of not less than that
set forth in the following table:

                  FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                             RATIO

                           06/28/97                                1.75:1
                           09/27/97                                1.75:1
                           12/27/97                                1.75:1
                           03/31/98                                2.00:1
                           06/27/98                                2.00:1
                           09/26/98                                2.00:1
                           12/26/98                                2.00:1
                           03/31/99                                2.00:1
                           06/28/99                                2.20:1

         Section 8.06.  CONSOLIDATED  FUNDED DEBT  COVERAGE.  The Borrower shall
maintain at the end of each Fiscal  Quarter,  for the four Fiscal Quarter period
then ended, a ratio of "Average Consolidated Funded Debt" to Consolidated EBITDA
of not more than that set forth in the following table. For the purposes of this
paragraph,  Average  Consolidated  Funded Debt shall mean the average  amount of
Consolidated  Funded  Debt  outstanding  at the end of each of the  four  Fiscal
Quarters comprising such period.

                  FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                             RATIO

                           06/28/97                                5.50:1
                           09/27/97                                5.50:1
                           12/27/97                                5.50:1
                           03/31/98                                5.00:1
                           06/27/98                                5.00:1
                           09/26/98                                5.00:1
                           12/26/98                                5.00:1
                           03/31/99                                5.00:1
                           06/28/99                                5.00:1


                          ARTICLE 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

         Section 9.01.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  Any of the following events shall be
an "Event of Default":

         (a) the Borrower  shall:  (i) fail to pay the  principal of any Note as
and when due and payable;  or (ii) fail to pay interest on any Note,  or any fee
or other amount due hereunder, for more than 3 Banking Days after the due date;

         (b) any  representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower
in this Agreement or by Borrower or Pillsbury in any other Facility  Document or
which is contained in any  certificate,  document,  opinion,  financial or other
statement  furnished or deemed furnished at any time under or in connection with
any Facility Document shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect
on or as of the date made or deemed made;

         (c) the  Borrower  shall:  (i) fail to  perform  or  observe  any term,
covenant or agreement contained in SECTION 2.03 or ARTICLES 7 OR 8; or (ii) fail
to  perform  or  observe  any  term,  covenant  or  agreement  on its part to be
performed  or observed  (other  than the  obligations  specifically  referred to
elsewhere in this SECTION 9.01) in any Facility  Document and such failure shall
continue for 30  consecutive  days after any Financial  Officer  obtains  actual
knowledge  thereof;  or (iii) fail to deliver a Borrowing Base  Certificate  for
more than  five  Banking  Days  after  the date on which it is due  pursuant  to
SECTION 6.08(I);

         (d) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  shall: (i) fail to pay any
indebtedness,  including  but not limited to  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money
(other than the payment obligations  described in (a) above), of the Borrower or
such Subsidiary,  as the case may be, or any interest or premium  thereon,  when
due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or
otherwise);  or (ii) fail to perform or observe any term,  covenant or condition
on its part to be  performed  or  observed  under any  agreement  or  instrument
relating to any such indebtedness, when required to be performed or observed, if
the effect of such failure to perform or observe is to accelerate,  or to permit
the acceleration of, after the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, the
maturity of such indebtedness, whether or not such failure to perform or observe
shall be waived by the  holder of such  indebtedness;  or any such  indebtedness
shall be declared to be due and payable,  or required to be prepaid  (other than
by a regularly  scheduled  required  prepayment),  prior to the stated  maturity
thereof;

         (e) the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries:  (i) shall generally not,
or be unable to, or shall  admit in writing its  inability  to, pay its debts as
such debts  become  due;  or (ii) shall make an  assignment  for the  benefit of
creditors, petition or apply to any tribunal for the appointment of a custodian,
receiver or trustee for it or a substantial  part of its assets;  or (iii) shall
commence  any  proceeding  under any  bankruptcy,  reorganization,  arrangement,
readjustment  of  debt,  dissolution  or  liquidation  law  or  statute  of  any
jurisdiction,  whether now or  hereafter  in effect;  or (iv) shall have had any
such  petition  or  application  filed or any such  proceeding  shall  have been
commenced,  against it, in which an adjudication or appointment is made or order
for relief is entered,  or which  petition,  application  or proceeding  remains
undismissed  for a period  of 30 days or more;  or shall be the  subject  of any
proceeding  under  which its assets may be subject  to  seizure,  forfeiture  or
divestiture  (other  than a  proceeding  in  respect of a Lien  permitted  under
SECTION 7.03 (B)); or (v) by any act or omission  shall indicate its consent to,
approval of or acquiescence  in any such petition,  application or proceeding or
order for relief or the appointment of a custodian,  receiver or trustee for all
or any  substantial  part  of its  property;  or  (vi)  shall  suffer  any  such
custodianship, receivership or trusteeship to continue undischarged for a period
of 60 days or more;

         (f) one or more  judgments,  decrees or orders for the payment of money
in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered  against the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries and such judgments,  decrees or orders shall continue
unsatisfied  and in effect for a period of 30  consecutive  days  without  being
vacated, discharged, satisfied or stayed or bonded pending appeal;

         (g) any event or  condition  shall  occur or exist with  respect to any
Plan or Multiemployer  Plan concerning which the Borrower is under an obligation
to furnish a report to the Banks in accordance  with SECTION  6.08(H) hereof and
as a result of such event or  condition,  together with all other such events or
conditions,  the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate has incurred or in the opinion
of the Bank is reasonably likely to incur a liability to a Plan, a Multiemployer
Plan, the PBGC, or a Section 4042 Trustee (or any  combination of the foregoing)
which is material in relation to the financial  position of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis;

         (h)      The Unfunded  Benefit  Liabilities of one or more Plans have
increased after the date of this Agreement in an amount which is material (as
specified in SECTION 9.01(G) hereof);
   

         (i) Any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert (other than the
Wolcott or Kayser families) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the
meaning  of Rule  13d-3 of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934) of capital stock possessing  either (x) 30% or
more of the  total  number  of  votes  which  Borrower's  shareholders  shall be
entitled to cast on matters  submitted to such shareholders or (xx) the right to
elect 30% or more of Borrower's board of directors; or (ii) during any period of
twelve  (12)  consecutive  months,  commencing  before or after the date of this
Agreement,  individuals  who at the  beginning  of such  12  month  period  were
directors of the Borrower  cease for any reason to  constitute a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Borrower; or

         (j) (A) any  Forfeiture  Proceeding  shall have been  commenced  or the
Borrower  shall have given any Bank written  notice of the  commencement  of any
Forfeiture  Proceeding as provided in SECTION 6.08(K) or (B) any Bank has a good
faith basis to believe  that a  Forfeiture  Proceeding  has been  threatened  or
commenced.

         (k)  Pillsbury  shall  in any  material  respect  fail  to  perform  or
otherwise  breach  or  default  under any  provision  of  either  the  Pillsbury
Subordination  Agreement, the ss. 1111(b) Agreement or the Consent and Agreement
or any  provision of the Pillsbury  Note  applicable to or binding on Pillsbury;
any amount of  principal or interest is paid,  credited or  otherwise  satisfied
(whether by payment,  offset or any other  method,  and whether by  voluntary or
mandatory  prepayment)  other  than by  Permitted  Payments  (as  defined in the
Pillsbury Note),  either prior to the regularly  scheduled payment date therefor
under  the  Pillsbury  Note,  or in  violation  of the  Pillsbury  Note,  of the
Pillsbury Subordination Agreement or of this Agreement;  Pillsbury,  Borrower or
any other  Person  denies or contests,  including  the bringing of any action or
proceeding to contest,  the  effectiveness  or validity of the  subordination or
non-recourse  provisions  of the Pillsbury  Note,  or any of such  provisions is
declared invalid or  unenforceable;  or any notice of termination is given under
the Pillsbury  Alliance Agreement or the Pillsbury Alliance Agreement is in fact
terminated.

         Section  9.02.  REMEDIES.  If any Event of Default  shall  occur and be
continuing,  the Agent shall,  upon request of the Required  Banks, by notice to
the Borrower,  (a) declare the Commitments to be terminated,  whereupon the same
shall  forthwith  terminate,  and (b) declare the  outstanding  principal of the
Notes,  all interest  thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement
and the Notes to be forthwith  due and payable,  whereupon  the Notes,  all such
interest  and all such amounts  shall  become and be forthwith  due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby  expressly  waived by the Borrower;  provided that, in the case of an
Event of Default referred to in SECTION 9.01(E) or SECTION 9.01(J)(A) above, the
Commitments shall be immediately terminated, and the Notes, all interest thereon
and all other amounts  payable under this Agreement shall be immediately due and
payable without notice, presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any
kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

           ARTICLE 10. THE AGENT; RELATIONS AMONG BANKS AND BORROWER.

         Section 10.01.  APPOINTMENT,  POWERS AND IMMUNITIES OF AGENT. Each Bank
hereby  irrevocably  (but subject to removal by the Required  Banks  pursuant to
SECTION 10.09)  appoints and authorizes the Agent to act as its agent  hereunder
and under any  other  Facility  Document  with such  powers as are  specifically
delegated  to the Agent by the terms of this  Agreement  and any other  Facility
Document,  together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The Agent shall have no duties or  responsibilities  except those  expressly set
forth in this Agreement and any other Facility Document, and shall not by reason
of this  Agreement be a trustee for any Bank. The Agent shall not be responsible
to the Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by
the  Borrower or any officer or  official  of the  Borrower or any other  Person
contained  in  this  Agreement  or  any  other  Facility  Document,  or  in  any
certificate or other  document or instrument  referred to or provided for in, or
received by any of them under, this Agreement or any other Facility Document, or
for the value, legality, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or
sufficiency  of this  Agreement  or any  other  Facility  Document  or any other
document or  instrument  referred to or provided for herein or therein,  for the
perfection  or  priority  of any  collateral  security  for the Loans or for any
failure  by  the  Borrower  to  perform  any  of its  obligations  hereunder  or
thereunder.  The Agent may employ agents and  attorneys-in-fact and shall not be
responsible,  except as to money or securities  received by it or its authorized
agents, for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors,
officers,  employees  or agents  shall be liable or  responsible  for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under any other Facility
Document or in  connection  herewith or  therewith,  except for its or their own
gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Borrower shall pay any fee agreed to
by the Borrower and the Agent with respect to the Agent's services hereunder.

         Section 10.02.  RELIANCE BY AGENT.  The Agent shall be entitled to rely
upon any certification,  notice or other communication (including any thereof by
telephone,  telex,  telegram or cable)  believed by it to be genuine and correct
and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons,
and upon advice and statements of legal  counsel,  independent  accountants  and
other experts  selected by the Agent.  The Agent may deem and treat each Bank as
the holder of the Loans made by it for all  purposes  hereof  unless and until a
notice of the assignment or transfer thereof satisfactory to the Agent signed by
such Bank  shall  have been  furnished  to the Agent but the Agent  shall not be
required to deal with any Person who has  acquired a  participation  in any Loan
from a Bank. As to any matters not expressly  provided for by this  Agreement or
any other Facility Document,  the Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in
acting, or in refraining from acting,  hereunder in accordance with instructions
signed by the Required  Banks,  and such  instructions of the Required Banks and
any action taken or failure to act pursuant  thereto  shall be binding on all of
the Banks and any other holder of all or any portion of any Loan.

         Section  10.03.  DEFAULTS.  The  Agent  shall  not be  deemed  to  have
knowledge  of the  occurrence  of a Default or Event of Default  (other than the
non-payment  of  principal of or interest on the Loans to the extent the same is
required to be paid to the Agent for the account of the Banks)  unless the Agent
has received notice from a Bank or the Borrower specifying such Default or Event
of Default and stating  that such notice is a "Notice of  Default." In the event
that the Agent receives such a notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of
Default, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Banks (and shall give
each Bank prompt notice of each such  non-payment).  The Agent shall (subject to
SECTION 10.08) take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default
which is continuing as shall be directed by the Required  Banks;  provided that,
unless and until the Agent shall have  received such  directions,  the Agent may
take such  action,  or refrain  from taking such  action,  with  respect to such
Default or Event of Default as it shall deem  advisable in the best  interest of
the Banks; and provided further that the Agent shall not be required to take any
such action which it determines to be contrary to law.

         Section  10.04.  RIGHTS  OF  AGENT  AS A  BANK.  With  respect  to  its
Commitment, its Swing Line Commitment and the Loans made by it, the Agent in its
capacity as a Bank hereunder shall have the same rights and powers  hereunder as
any other  Bank and may  exercise  the same as though it were not  acting as the
Agent,  and the term  "Bank" or  "Banks"  shall,  unless the  context  otherwise
indicates,  include  the  Agent in its  capacity  as a Bank.  The  Agent and its
affiliates may (without having to account  therefor to any Bank) accept deposits
from, lend money to (on a secured or unsecured  basis),  and generally engage in
any kind of banking,  trust or other business with, the Borrower (and any of its
affiliates) as if it were not acting as the Agent, and the Agent may accept fees
and other  consideration  from the Borrower for services in connection with this
Agreement  or  otherwise  without  having to account  for the same to the Banks.
Although the Agent and its  affiliates  may in the course of such  relationships
not involving its activities as Agent, and in the course of  relationships  with
other Persons,  acquire information about the Borrower,  its Affiliates and such
other Persons, the Agent shall have no duty to disclose to the Banks information
so acquired.

         Section 10.05.  INDEMNIFICATION  OF AGENT. The Banks agree to indemnify
the  Agent  (to the  extent  not  reimbursed  under  SECTION  11.03 or under the
applicable  provisions of any other Facility Document,  but without limiting the
obligations of the Borrower under SECTION 11.03 or such provisions),  ratably in
accordance with the aggregate  unpaid  principal amount of the Loans made by the
Banks  (without  giving effect to any  participations,  in all or any portion of
such Loans,  sold by them to any other  Person) (or, if no Loans are at the time
outstanding,  ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments),  for any
and  all  liabilities,   obligations,   losses,  damages,  penalties,   actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any kind and  nature
whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in
any way  relating  to or  arising  out of this  Agreement,  any  other  Facility
Document  or any other  documents  contemplated  by or referred to herein or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including,  without limitation, the
costs and expenses which the Borrower is obligated to pay under SECTION 11.03 or
under the applicable  provisions of any other  Facility  Document but excluding,
unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred,  normal  administrative costs
and expenses  incident to the performance of its agency duties hereunder) or the
enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof or of any such other documents
or  instruments;  provided that no Bank shall be liable for any of the foregoing
to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful  misconduct of the
party to be indemnified.

         Section 10.06. DOCUMENTS. The Agent will forward to each Bank, promptly
after  the  Agent's  receipt  thereof,  a copy of each  report,  notice or other
document  required  by this  Agreement  or any  other  Facility  Document  to be
delivered to the Agent for such Bank.

         Section 10.07.  NON-RELIANCE ON AGENT AND OTHER BANKS. Each Bank agrees
that it has,  independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Bank,
and based on such documents and information as it has deemed  appropriate,  made
its own credit  analysis of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and decision to
enter into this Agreement and that it will,  independently  and without reliance
upon the Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem  appropriate  at the time,  continue to make its own  analysis and
decisions  in taking or not  taking  action  under this  Agreement  or any other
Facility Document. The Agent shall not be required to keep itself informed as to
the  performance  or observance  by the Borrower of this  Agreement or any other
Facility  Document or any other  document  referred to or provided for herein or
therein or to inspect the properties or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
Except for  notices,  reports  and other  documents  and  information  expressly
required to be  furnished to the Banks by the Agent  hereunder,  the Agent shall
not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Bank with any credit or other
information  concerning  the  affairs,  financial  condition  or business of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary (or any of their  Affiliates) which may come into the
possession  of the  Agent  or any of its  affiliates.  The  Agent  shall  not be
required to file this Agreement,  any other Facility Document or any document or
instrument  referred  to herein or  therein,  for record or give  notice of this
Agreement, any other Facility Document or any document or instrument referred to
herein or therein, to anyone.

         Section  10.08.  FAILURE OF AGENT TO ACT.  Except for action  expressly
required of the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall in all cases be fully justified
in failing or refusing to act hereunder  unless it shall have  received  further
assurances   (which  may  include  cash   collateral)  of  the   indemnification
obligations of the Banks under SECTION 10.05 in respect of any and all liability
and expense  which may be incurred  by it by reason of taking or  continuing  to
take any such action.

         Section  10.09.  RESIGNATION  OR  REMOVAL  OF  AGENT.  Subject  to  the
appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided below, the Agent may
resign  at any time by  giving  written  notice  thereof  to the  Banks  and the
Borrower,  and the Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by the
Required Banks; provided that the Borrower and the other Banks shall be promptly
notified thereof. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Banks shall
have the right to appoint a successor  Agent.  If no successor  Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Required Banks and shall have accepted such appointment
within 30 days after the retiring Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the
Required Banks' removal of the retiring  Agent,  then the retiring Agent may, on
behalf of the Banks,  appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a bank which has
an office in New York State.  The Required Banks or the retiring  Agent,  as the
case may be, shall upon the  appointment of a successor Agent promptly so notify
the Borrower and the other Banks.  Upon the  acceptance  of any  appointment  as
Agent  hereunder by a successor  Agent,  such  successor  Agent shall  thereupon
succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,  privileges and duties
of the retiring  Agent,  and the  retiring  Agent shall be  discharged  from its
duties and  obligations  hereunder.  After any retiring  Agent's  resignation or
removal  hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this ARTICLE 10 shall continue in
effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as the Agent.

         Section 10.10.  AMENDMENTS CONCERNING AGENCY FUNCTION.  The Agent shall
not be  bound by any  waiver,  amendment,  supplement  or  modification  of this
Agreement or any other Facility  Document which affects its duties  hereunder or
thereunder unless it shall have given its prior consent thereto.

         Section  10.11.  LIABILITY  OF  AGENT.  The  Agent  shall  not have any
liabilities or responsibilities to the Borrower on account of the failure of any
Bank to  perform  its  obligations  hereunder  or to any Bank on  account of the
failure of the Borrower to perform its obligations  hereunder or under any other
Facility Document.

         Section 10.12. TRANSFER OF AGENCY FUNCTION.  Without the consent of the
Borrower  or any Bank,  the Agent may at any time or from time to time  transfer
its  functions  as  Agent  hereunder  to any of its  offices  wherever  located,
provided  that the  Agent  shall  promptly  notify  the  Borrower  and the Banks
thereof.

         Section  10.13.  NON-RECEIPT  OF FUNDS BY THE  AGENT.  Unless the Agent
shall have been  notified by a Bank or the Borrower  (either one as  appropriate
being  the  "Payor")  prior to the date on which  such  Bank is to make  payment
hereunder  to the Agent of the  proceeds  of a Loan or the  Borrower  is to make
payment to the Agent,  as the case may be (either such payment being a "Required
Payment"), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that the Payor does not
intend to make the Required  Payment to the Agent, the Agent may assume that the
Required  Payment has been made and may, in reliance upon such  assumption  (but
shall not be required  to),  make the amount  thereof  available to the intended
recipient  on such  date and,  if the  Payor  has not in fact made the  Required
Payment to the Agent,  the recipient of such payment (and, if such  recipient is
the  Borrower  and the Payor Bank  fails to pay the amount  thereof to the Agent
forthwith upon demand,  the Borrower)  shall, on demand,  repay to the Agent the
amount made  available to it together with interest  thereon for the period from
the date such amount was so made available by the Agent until the date the Agent
recovers  such  amount at a rate per annum equal to the  average  daily  Federal
Funds Rate for such period.

         Section  10.14.  WITHHOLDING  TAXES.  Each Bank  represents  that it is
entitled  to  receive  any  payments  to be made  to it  hereunder  without  the
withholding of any tax and will furnish to the Agent such forms, certifications,
statements  and other  documents  as the Agent may request  from time to time to
evidence such Bank's  exemption  from the  withholding of any tax imposed by any
jurisdiction  or to  enable  the  Agent to comply  with any  applicable  laws or
regulations relating thereto.  Without limiting the effect of the foregoing,  if
any Bank is not  created or  organized  under the laws of the  United  States of
America or any state  thereof,  in the event that the payment of interest by the
Borrower is treated for U.S.  income tax purposes as derived in whole or in part
from sources from within the U.S., such Bank will furnish to the Agent, when and
as appropriate,  Form 4224 or Form 1001 of the Internal Revenue Service, or such
other  forms,  certifications,   statements  or  documents,  duly  executed  and
completed by such Bank as evidence of such Bank's exemption from the withholding
of U.S. tax with respect  thereto.  The Agent shall not be obligated to make any
payments hereunder to such Bank in respect of any Loan or such Bank's Commitment
until  such  Bank  shall  have  furnished  to  the  Agent  the  requested  form,
certification, statement or document.

         Section 10.15.  SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF BANKS. The failure of
any Bank to make any Loan to be made by it on the date specified  therefor shall
not relieve any other Bank of its  obligation to make its Loan on such date, but
no Bank shall be responsible for the failure of any other Bank to make a Loan to
be made by such other Bank.  The amounts  payable at any time  hereunder to each
Bank shall be a separate and  independent  debt, and each Bank shall be entitled
to protect and enforce its rights  arising out of this  Agreement,  and it shall
not be necessary for any other Bank to be joined as an  additional  party in any
proceeding for such purpose.

         Section 10.16.  PRO RATA TREATMENT OF LOANS,  ETC. Except to the extent
otherwise provided: (a) each Borrowing under SECTION 2.04 shall be made from the
Banks,  each  reduction or termination  of the amount of the  Commitments  under
SECTION 2.07 or SECTION 2.15 shall be applied to the  Commitments  of the Banks,
and each payment of commitment fee accruing under SECTION 2.11 shall be made for
the account of the Banks,  pro rata according to the amounts of their respective
Commitments;  (b) each  conversion  under  SECTION 2.05 of Loans of a particular
type (but not conversions  provided for by SECTION 3.04), shall be made pro rata
among the Banks holding Loans of such type according to the respective principal
amounts  of such  Loans  by such  Banks;  (c) each  prepayment  and  payment  of
principal of or interest on Loans of a particular type and a particular Interest
Period shall be made to the Agent for the account of the Banks  holding Loans of
such type and Interest Period pro rata in accordance with the respective  unpaid
principal  amounts of such Loans of such Interest Period held by such Banks; and
(d) any "Proceeds" (as defined in the  Intercreditor  Agreement),  available for
distribution  to the Banks  pursuant  to the  Intercreditor  Agreement  shall be
distributed to each Bank  according to the Percentage  Interest of such Bank, as
described in the Intercreditor Agreement.

         Section  10.17.  SHARING  OF  PAYMENTS  AMONG  BANKS.  Subject  to  any
conflicting  provisions of the  Intercreditor  Agreement,  which shall supersede
this SECTION 10.17 for as long as they are binding on the Banks, if a Bank shall
obtain directly from the Borrower payment of any principal of or interest on any
Loan made by it through  the  exercise  of any right of setoff,  banker's  lien,
counterclaim,  or by any other means, it shall promptly  purchase from the other
Banks participations in (or, if and to the extent specified by such Bank, direct
interests in) the Loans made by the other Banks in such  amounts,  and make such
other  adjustments  from time to time as shall be  equitable to the end that all
the Banks shall share the benefit of such payment (net of any expenses which may
be incurred by such Bank in obtaining or  preserving  such  benefit) pro rata in
accordance  with the unpaid  principal and interest on the Loans held by each of
them. To such end the Banks shall make appropriate  adjustments among themselves
(by the resale of participations sold or otherwise) if such payment is rescinded
or must otherwise be restored. The Borrower agrees that any Bank so purchasing a
participation (or direct interest) in the Loans made by other Banks may exercise
all rights of setoff, banker's lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect
to such  participation  (or direct  interest).  Nothing  contained  herein shall
require  any Bank to  exercise  any such right or shall  affect the right of any
Bank to  exercise,  and retain the benefits of  exercising,  any such right with
respect to any other indebtedness of the Borrower.

         Section  10.18.  INTERCREDITOR  AGREEMENT AND SECURITY  AGREEMENT.  The
Banks acknowledge that the Agent, on execution of the Security Agreement and the
Intercreditor  Agreement, has assumed the duties as Collateral Agent thereunder,
and that such  duties  will  require  the Agent to act on behalf of the  lenders
under the Insurance Company Loan Documents,  and the $15,000,000 Loan Documents,
as well as on  behalf of the  Banks.  The Banks  hereby  authorize  the Agent to
execute such documents and to assume such duties,  and they acknowledge that, in
so acting, the Agent may be required to take action which may be contrary to the
interests  of the Banks.  Notwithstanding  that  possibility,  the Banks  hereby
affirm that the Agent shall not thereby  suffer any  impairment  or reduction of
any of the rights,  protections  or  indemnification  rights  afforded the Agent
pursuant  to  this  Agreement,  the  Intercreditor  Agreement  or  the  Security
Agreement.

                           ARTICLE 11. MISCELLANEOUS.

         Section 11.01.  AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.  Except as otherwise  expressly
provided in this  Agreement,  any provision of this  Agreement may be amended or
modified only by an instrument in writing signed by the Borrower,  the Agent and
the  Required  Banks,  or by the  Borrower  and the Agent  acting with the prior
written consent of the Required Banks and any provision of this Agreement may be
waived by the  Required  Banks or by the  Agent  acting  with the prior  written
consent of the Required  Banks;  PROVIDED  that no  amendment,  modification  or
waiver shall, unless by an instrument signed by all of the Banks or by the Agent
acting  with the prior  written  consent of all of the Banks:  (a)  increase  or
extend the term, or extend the time or waive any  requirement  for the reduction
or termination, of the Commitments or of the Swing Line Commitments,  (b) extend
the date fixed for the  payment of  principal  of or interest on any Loan or any
fee payable hereunder, (c) reduce the amount of any payment of principal thereof
or the rate at which interest is payable  thereon or any fee payable  hereunder,
(d) alter the terms of this SECTION 11.01,  (e) amend the definition of the term
"Required  Banks" or (f) waive any of the documentary  conditions  precedent set
forth in SECTION 4.01 hereof and  PROVIDED,  FURTHER,  that (i) any amendment of
ARTICLE 10 hereof or any amendment  which increases the obligations of the Agent
hereunder  shall require the consent of the Agent,  and (ii) any amendment which
could  have  the  effect  of  altering  any  terms  or  provisions  of any  then
outstanding  Competitive  Bid Loan(s),  or that changes any  provisions  of this
Agreement  that  relate to Swing Line  Loans,  shall  require the consent of the
Banks then holding such  Competitive Bid Loans, or of the Swing Line Lender,  as
the case may be. No  failure  on the part of the Agent or any Bank to  exercise,
and no delay in  exercising,  any  right  hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver
thereof or preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right.  The remedies  herein  provided are cumulative and not exclusive of
any remedies provided by law.

         Section 11.02. USURY. Anything herein to the contrary  notwithstanding,
the  obligations  of the Borrower  under this  Agreement  and the Notes shall be
subject to the limitation that payments of interest shall not be required to the
extent that receipt thereof would be contrary to provisions of law applicable to
a Bank  limiting  rates of interest  which may be charged or  collected  by such
Bank.

         Section  11.03.  EXPENSES.  The  Borrower  shall  pay the Agent and the
Banks,  as the case may be, on  demand  for all  costs,  expenses,  and  charges
(including,  without limitation,  fees and charges of external legal counsel for
the Agent and each Bank and costs allocated by their  respective  internal legal
departments)  (i) incurred by the Agent in connection  with the  negotiation and
preparation of this  Agreement,  the Notes and the other  documents  executed in
connection  herewith,  and (ii) incurred by the Agent or the Banks in connection
with the performance or enforcement of this Agreement or the Notes. The Borrower
agrees to  indemnify  the Agent  and each Bank and their  respective  directors,
officers, employees and agents from, and hold each of them harmless against, any
and all losses,  liabilities,  claims, damages or expenses (each an "Indemnified
Liability")  incurred  by  any  of  them  arising  out  of or by  reason  of any
investigation  or  litigation or other  proceedings  (including  any  threatened
investigation or litigation or other proceedings)  relating to or arising out of
this  Agreement or any actual or proposed use by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary
of the proceeds of the Loans, including without limitation,  the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel incurred in connection with any such  investigation
or litigation or other proceedings,  but (i) excluding any Indemnified Liability
incurred by reason of the gross  negligence or willful  misconduct of the Person
to be indemnified, and (ii) in the case of any Indemnified Liability incurred by
the  directors,  officers,  employees or agents of a Bank by reason of the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of or attributable to such Bank, excluding also
the Indemnified Liability so incurred.  The Borrower agrees that any Indemnified
Liability will be promptly paid to the Person to be indemnified upon the written
demand of such Person.

         Section 11.04.  SURVIVAL.  The  obligations of the Borrower under
SECTIONS 3.01,  3.05 AND 11.03 shall survive the repayment of the Loans and the
termination of the Commitments.

         Section 11.05. ASSIGNMENT;  PARTICIPATIONS. (a) This Agreement shall be
binding upon,  and shall inure to the benefit of, the Borrower,  the Agent,  the
Banks and their respective successors and assigns,  except that the Borrower may
not  assign or  transfer  its  rights or  obligations  hereunder.  Each Bank may
assign, or sell participations in, all or any part of its Commitment or any Loan
to  another  bank  or  other  entity,  in  which  event  (i) in the  case  of an
assignment,  upon notice  thereof by the Bank to the Borrower with a copy to the
Agent,  the  assignee  shall  have,  to the  extent of such  assignment  (unless
otherwise  provided  therein),  the same rights,  benefits and obligations as it
would have if it were a Bank hereunder; and (ii) in the case of a participation,
the  participant  shall  have no rights  under the  Facility  Documents  and all
amounts  payable by the Borrower  under ARTICLE 3 shall be determined as if such
Bank had not sold such  participation.  The  agreement  executed by such Bank in
favor of the  participant  shall not give the  participant  the right to require
such Bank to take or omit to take any action  hereunder  except action  directly
relating to (i) the extension of the  Termination  Date, (ii) the extension of a
payment date with respect to any portion of the  principal of or interest on any
amount outstanding hereunder,  or with respect to any Commitment fees, allocated
to such  participant,  (iii) the reduction of the principal  amount  outstanding
hereunder or (iv) the  reduction of the rate of interest  payable on such amount
or any amount of fees payable hereunder to a rate or amount, as the case may be,
below that which the participant is entitled to receive under its agreement with
such Bank. Such Bank may furnish any information  concerning the Borrower in the
possession  of  such  Bank  from  time to time  to  assignees  and  participants
(including  prospective  assignees  and  participants);  provided that such Bank
shall require any such prospective assignee or such participant  (prospective or
otherwise) to agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information.

         (b) In addition to the assignments and  participations  permitted under
paragraph  (a) above,  any Bank may assign and pledge all or any  portion of its
Loans and Notes to (i) any  affiliate  of such Bank or (ii) any Federal  Reserve
Bank as collateral  security  pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and any Operating  Circular issued by such Federal
Reserve Bank.  No such  assignment  shall  release the  assigning  Bank from its
obligations hereunder.

         Section  11.06.  NOTICES.  Unless  the party to be  notified  otherwise
notifies the other party in writing as provided in this  Section,  and except as
otherwise  provided in this  Agreement,  notices  shall be given to the Agent by
telephone,  confirmed promptly by telex,  telecopy or other writing,  and to the
Banks and to the  Borrower by ordinary  mail or telex or telecopy  addressed  to
such party at its address on the signature page of this Agreement. Notices shall
be effective:  (a) if given by mail, 96 hours after deposit in the United States
mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid; and (b) if given
by telex or telecopy,  when the notice is  transmitted  to the telex or telecopy
number as  aforesaid;  provided that notices to the Agent and the Banks shall be
effective upon receipt.

         Section 11.07.  SETOFF.  The Borrower  agrees that, in addition to (and
without limitation of) any right of setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim a Bank
may  otherwise  have,  each Bank shall be  entitled,  at its option,  during the
existence of a Default or an Event of Default,  to offset  balances  (general or
special, time or demand, provisional or final) held by it for the account of the
Borrower at any of such  Bank's  offices,  in Dollars or in any other  currency,
against any amount  payable by the Borrower to such Bank under this Agreement or
such  Bank's  Notes  which is not paid  when due  (regardless  of  whether  such
balances are then due to the Borrower),  in which case it shall promptly  notify
the Borrower and the Agent  thereof;  provided that such Bank's  failure to give
such notice  shall not affect the  validity  thereof.  Payments by the  Borrower
hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim.

         SECTION 11.08.  JURISDICTION;  IMMUNITIES.  (A) THE BORROWER, THE AGENT
AND EACH BANK  HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  SUBMIT TO THE  JURISDICTION  OF ANY NEW YORK
STATE OR UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK OVER ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES,
AND EACH HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING  MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT.
THE BORROWER  IRREVOCABLY  CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS IN ANY
SUCH  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  BY THE  MAILING  OF COPIES OF SUCH  PROCESS  TO THE
BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS  SPECIFIED  IN SECTION  11.06.  EACH PARTY AGREES THAT A
FINAL  JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING  SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE
ENFORCED IN OTHER  JURISDICTIONS  BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER
PROVIDED BY LAW. EACH PARTY FURTHER  WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE IN SUCH STATE
AND ANY OBJECTION TO AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH STATE ON THE BASIS OF FORUM
NON CONVENIENS.  EACH PARTY FURTHER AGREES THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT
AGAINST  THE AGENT  SHALL BE  BROUGHT  ONLY IN NEW YORK  STATE OR UNITED  STATES
FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK. EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT
MAY HAVE TO JURY TRIAL.

         (b) Nothing in this  SECTION  11.08 shall affect the right of the Agent
or any Bank to serve  legal  process  in any other  manner  permitted  by law or
affect  the  right of the Agent or any Bank to bring  any  action or  proceeding
against the Borrower or its property in the courts of any other jurisdictions.

         (c) To the extent that the Borrower  has or  hereafter  may acquire any
immunity from  jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether from
service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution,
execution or  otherwise)  with respect to itself or its  property,  the Borrower
hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this
Agreement and the Notes.

         Section 11.09.  TABLE OF CONTENTS;  HEADINGS.  Any table of contents
and the headings and captions  hereunder are for  convenience  only and shall
not affect the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

         Section  11.10.  SEVERABILITY.  The  provisions  of this  Agreement are
intended to be  severable.  If for any reason any  provision  of this  Agreement
shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any  jurisdiction,
such provision shall, as to such  jurisdiction,  be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity
or enforceability  thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions
hereof in any jurisdiction.

         Section  11.11.  COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement  may be executed in any
number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument,  and any party hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any
such counterpart.

         Section 11.12. INTEGRATION. The Facility Documents set forth the entire
agreement  among the parties hereto  relating to the  transactions  contemplated
thereby and  supersede any prior oral or written  statements or agreements  with
respect to such transactions.

         SECTION 11.13.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND INTERPRETED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.

         Section  11.14.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Each Bank and the Agent  agrees  (on
behalf of itself and each of its affiliates,  directors, officers, employees and
representatives)  to  use  reasonable  precautions  to  keep  confidential,   in
accordance  with safe and sound banking  practices,  any non-public  information
supplied to it by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement which is identified by
the  Borrower as being  confidential  at the time the same is  delivered  to the
Banks or the Agent,  provided that nothing  herein shall limit the disclosure of
any such information (i) to the extent required by statute,  rule, regulation or
judicial  process,  (ii) to counsel for any of the Banks or the Agent,  (iii) to
bank examiners,  auditors or accountants, (iv) in connection with any litigation
to  which  any one or more of the  Banks is a party  or (v) to any  assignee  or
participant (or prospective assignee or participant) so long as such assignee or
participant  (or  prospective  assignee or  participant)  agrees to maintain the
confidentiality of such information.

         Section  11.15.  TREATMENT  OF CERTAIN  INFORMATION.  The  Borrower (a)
acknowledges  that services may be offered or provided to it (in connection with
this Agreement or otherwise) by each Bank or by one or more of their  respective
subsidiaries or affiliates and (b) acknowledges  that any information  delivered
to each Bank or its  subsidiaries  or  affiliates  regarding the Borrower may be
shared among such Bank and such subsidiaries and affiliates.  This SECTION 11.15
shall survive the repayment of the Loans and the termination of the Commitments.



<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                             SENECA FOODS CORPORATION


                                             By  /S/PHILIP G. PARAS
                                             Name: Philip G. Paras
                                             Title: Vice President, Finance

                                             Address for Notices:

                                             1162 Pittsford-Victor Road
                                             Pittsford, New York  14534
                                             Attn: Philip G. Paras,
                                             Vice President - Finance
                                             Telephone:  (716) 383-4643
                                             Telecopy:  (716) 385-4249


<PAGE>


                                                                              




                                                     -  -

                                               AGENT:
                                               THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                               By /s/Diana Laura
                                               Name: Diana Laura
                                               Title: Vice-President

                                               Address for Notices:

                                               One Chase Plaza
                                               Loan and Agency Service Group
                                               - 8th Fl.
                                               New York, New York  10081
                                               Attn:
                                               Telephone:
                                               Telecopy:



<PAGE>





                                               BANKS:
                                               THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                                By: /s/Diana Lauria
                                                Name: Diana Lauria
                                                Title: Vice-President



                                                Lending Office and Address
                                                 for Notices:
                                                One Chase Square
                                                Rochester New York  14643
                                                Attn:  Diana M. Lauria, V.P.
                                                Telephone:  (716) 258-5458
                                                Telecopy:  (716) 258-4258



<PAGE>



                                                BANKS:
                                                FLEET BANK


                                                By: /s/Martin K. Birmingham
                                                Name: Martin K. Birmingham
                                                Title:Vice President

                                                Lending Offices and Address
                                                  for Notices:

                                                1 East Avenue
                                                Rochester, New York 14638
                                                Attn: Martin K. Birmingham, V.P.
                                                Telephone:  (716) 546-9126
                                                Telecopy:  (716) 546-9278





<PAGE>



                                                 BANKS:
                                                 MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS TRUST
                                                   COMPANY


                                                 By:/s/William E. Holston
                                                 Name:William E. Holston
                                                 Title: Vice President

                                                 Lending Offices and Address
                                                   for Notices:

                                                 44 Exchange Street
                                                 Rochester, New York 14614
                                                 Attn:  William E. Holston, V.P.
                                                 Telephone:  (716) 258-8479
                                                 Telecopy:   (716) 325-5105


<PAGE>


                                                  BANKS:
                                                  HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK


                                                  By: /s/Erica T. Kuhlmann
                                                  Name: Erica T. Kuhlmann
                                                  Title: Vice President

                                                  Lending Offices and Address
                                                   for Notices:

                                                  111 West Monroe
                                                  Chicago, Illinois  60603
                                                  Attn: Mary L. Burke, V. P.
                                                  Telephone:  (312) 461-2744
                                                  Telecopy:   (312) 765-8095


<PAGE>


                                                  BANKS:
                                                  RABOBANK NEDERLAND, New York
                                                    Branch



                                                   By: /s/Ot Quast
                                                   Name: Ot Quast
                                                   Title: Vice President

                                                    By: /s/Ian Reece
                                                    Name: Ian Reece
                                                    Title:Senior Credit Office

                                                    Lending Offices and Address
                                                      for Notices:

                                                    245 Park Avenue
                                                    New York, New York 10167
                                                    Attn: Angelo J. Balestrieri,
                                                      V.P.
                                                    Telephone:  (212) 916-7851
                                                    Telecopy:   (212) 916-3731


<PAGE>


                                                     BANKS:
                                                     THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED



                                                      By: /s/William N. Paty
                                                      Name: William N. Paty
                                                      Title:Vice President & Mgr

                                                      By:/s/J. H. Broadley
                                                      Name: J. H. Broadley
                                                      Title: Vice President

                                                      Address for Notices:

                                                      450 Lexington Avenue
                                                      Suite 1700
                                                      New York, New York 10017
                                                      Attn:  James M. Drum, AVP
                                                      Telephone:  (212) 808-2340
                                                      Telecopy:   (212) 818-0865

                                                      Lending Office:

                                                      233 South Wacker Drive
                                                      Chicago, Illinois  60606




<PAGE>



                                                      BANKS:
                                                      THE FUJI BANK, LTD.



                                                     By:/s/Peter L. Chinnici
                                                     Name: Peter L. Chinnici
                                                     Title:Joint General Manager

                                                     Lending Offices and Address
                                                       for Notices:

                                                     225 W. Wacker Dr.
                                                     Suite 2000
                                                     Chicago, Illinois 60606
                                                     Attn:  James S. Bell, V.P.
                                                     Telephone:  (312) 621-0526
                                                     Telecopy:   (312) 621-0539


<PAGE>


                                                     BANKS:
                                                     NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA



                                                     By:/s/Mark J. Nigro
                                                     Name:Mark J. Nigro
                                                     Title:Vice President


                                                     By:/s/Michael S. Woodard
                                                     Name:Michael S. Woodard
                                                     Title:Vice President


                                                     Lending Offices and Address
                                                       for Notices:

                                                     350 Main Street, Suite 2540
                                                     Main Place Tower
                                                     Buffalo, New York 14202
                                                     Attn: Mark J. Nigro, V.P.
                                                     Telephone:  (716) 852-6836
                                                     Telecopy:   (716) 852-6832


<PAGE>



                                   Exhibit 4c

                                                                              

                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
                           1162 Pittsford-Victor Road
                            Pittsford, New York 14534


                            As of September 26, 1997



To Each Purchaser Listed
on Annex I Attached Hereto


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The  undersigned,  Seneca  Foods  Corporation,  a New York  corporation
(herein  called the  "COMPANY"),  hereby  agrees with each of the  Purchasers as
follows:

         1.       THE NOTES.

         1A.  AUTHORIZATION  OF ISSUE OF NOTES.  The Company will  authorize the
issue of its  senior  promissory  notes in the  aggregate  principal  amount  of
$15,000,000,  to be dated the date of issue  thereof,  to mature  September  26,
2004, to bear interest on the unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof until
the principal thereof shall have become due and payable at the rate of 9.17% per
annum and on overdue payments at the rate specified therein,  and, in each case,
to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The term "NOTE" or
"NOTES" as used herein shall include each such senior  promissory note delivered
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each such senior promissory note
delivered in  substitution  or exchange for any other Note  pursuant to any such
provision.

         1B. SECURITY FOR THE NOTES. The Notes are to be secured by, and to have
the benefit of, a pledge of and grant of a first priority  security  interest in
the Collateral under and pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.

         2.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES.  The Company  hereby  agrees to sell to
each Purchaser and, subject to the terms and conditions  herein set forth,  each
Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company one or more Notes in the aggregate
principal  amount  specified in the  Purchaser  Schedule  hereto at 100% of such
aggregate  principal amount. The Company will deliver to each Purchaser,  at the
offices of King & Spalding,  New York, New York, one or more Notes registered in
such Purchaser's name, evidencing the principal amount of Notes to


<PAGE>


                                                                         

be  purchased  by  such  Purchaser  and in  the  denomination  or  denominations
specified in the Purchaser  Schedule  attached  hereto,  against  payment of the
purchase price thereof by transfer of immediately  available funds for credit to
the Company's account #000-029-134-4 at The Chase Manhattan Bank, Rochester, New
York, ABA #021-000-021 on the date of closing, which shall be September 26, 1997
or any other date on or before September 26, 1997 upon which the Company and the
Purchasers  may  mutually  agree  (herein  called the  "CLOSING" or the "DATE OF
CLOSING").

         3.  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT.  The  obligation of the  Purchasers to enter
into,  execute and deliver this Agreement and purchase the Notes as described in
paragraph 2 is subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Date of Closing, of
the following conditions, as determined in sole judgment of the Purchasers:

         3A.      RELATED DOCUMENTS.  Each Purchaser shall have received each of
the following documents duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto:

                  (i)      Amendment No. 2 to Pledge Agreement;

                  (ii)     Pillsbury Acknowledgment;

                  (iii)    the Subordination Letter; and

                  (iv)     Intercreditor Agreement.

Each of the foregoing  agreements  shall be in full force and effect on the Date
of  Closing  and  each  party  thereto  shall  be in full  compliance  with  its
obligations thereunder.

         3B. OPINION OF PURCHASER'S  SPECIAL COUNSEL.  Each Purchaser shall have
received  from King &  Spalding,  who are  acting  as  special  counsel  for the
Purchasers in connection with this transaction, a favorable opinion satisfactory
to the Purchasers as to such matters incident to the matters herein contemplated
as the Purchasers may reasonably request.

         3C.  OPINIONS OF COUNSEL.  Each Purchaser  shall have received from (i)
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, counsel to the Company, a favorable opinion in
form and content satisfactory to the Purchasers and in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto,  (ii) a reliance letter in connection with the opinions of (x)
Dorsey & Whitney,  delivered in connection  with the 1995 Note Agreement and (y)
the General Counsel of Pillsbury and the Senior Entity,  delivered in connection
with the 1995 Note Agreement.



<PAGE>


                                                                 

         3D. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; NO DEFAULT. The representations and
warranties  contained  in  paragraph  8 shall  be true on and as of the  Date of
Closing,  except to the  extent of  changes  caused by the  transactions  herein
contemplated;  there  shall  exist on the Date of Closing no Event of Default or
Default; and the Company shall have delivered to each Purchaser a certificate of
a Principal Officer, dated the Date of Closing, regarding the foregoing.

         3E. PURCHASE  PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS. The purchase of and payment
for the Notes to be purchased on the Date of Closing on the terms and conditions
herein  provided  (including  the use of the  proceeds of such Notes)  shall not
violate  any  applicable  law or  governmental  regulation  (including,  without
limitation, section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation G, T or X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and shall not subject such Purchaser
to any tax (other than any tax on income  earned),  penalty,  liability or other
onerous  condition  under or  pursuant  to any  applicable  law or  governmental
regulation. The Notes shall on the Date of Closing qualify as a legal investment
for such  Purchaser  under  applicable  insurance  law  (without  regard  to any
"basket" or "leeway  provisions"),  and such acquisition  shall not subject such
Purchaser to any penalty or other onerous condition  contained in or pursuant to
any such law or regulation. Such Purchaser shall have received such certificates
or other  evidence as such  Purchaser may request to establish  compliance  with
this condition.

         3F.  PROCEEDINGS.  All corporate and other  proceedings  taken or to be
taken in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby and all documents
incident  thereto shall be satisfactory in substance and form to the Purchasers,
and each  Purchaser  shall  have  received  all such  counterpart  originals  or
certified  or other  copies of such  documents  as a  Purchaser  may  reasonably
request. In this connection, the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser:

                  (i) copies of the  certificate  or articles  of  incorporation
         (certified  as of a recent  date by the  Secretary  of the State of its
         incorporation)  and its  by-laws  (certified  by its  Secretary)  as in
         effect on the Date of Closing;

                  (ii)  certified  copies  (certified  by its  Secretary) of all
         corporate  action taken by it to authorize the execution,  delivery and
         performance of any Related Document to which it is a party; and

                  (iii) certificates of incumbency and specimen  signatures with
         respect to each of its  officers  who are  authorized  to  execute  and
         deliver any Related Document to which it is a party.

         3G.      CERTIFICATES OF GOOD STANDING/QUALIFICATION TO DO BUSINESS.
Each Purchaser shall have received a good standing certificate issued by the
Secretary


<PAGE>


                                                                      

of State of the  State of  incorporation  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
(other  than  Seneca  Foods  International,  Ltd.),  as the  case  may  be,  and
certificates  of  qualification  to do  business  as a  foreign  corporation  in
jurisdictions  specified  in Schedule  3G, each dated as of a date not more than
thirty days prior to Closing.

         3H. NO MATERIAL  ADVERSE  CHANGE.  Each Purchaser shall have received a
certificate from a Principal Officer of the Company dated the Date of Closing to
the effect that no material adverse change in the financial condition, business,
operations or prospects of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  has occurred  since
March 31, 1996.

         3I.  PRIVATE  PLACEMENT  NUMBERS.  The Company  shall have  obtained or
caused to be  obtained  private  placement  numbers for the Notes from the CUSIP
Service Bureau of Standard & Poor's and each Purchaser  shall have been informed
of such private placement numbers.

         3J.  PERFECTION OF LIENS. All actions necessary to perfect the Liens of
the  Collateral  Agent in the Collateral  (including,  without  limitation,  the
filing of appropriate  financing statements and the recording of all appropriate
documents with public  officials)  shall have been taken in accordance  with the
terms and provisions of the Pledge Agreement and  confirmation  thereof received
by each Purchaser.  The Liens of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral shall be
valid, enforceable and perfected and the Collateral shall be subject to no other
Liens not otherwise acceptable to each Purchaser.

         3K.  PILLSBURY  AGREEMENTS.  Each Purchaser shall have received a true,
correct  and  duly  authorized  and  executed  copy  of  each  of the  Pillsbury
Agreements and each other principal  document between Pillsbury and the Company,
including all schedules and exhibits thereto and side letters, if any, affecting
the terms  thereof or  delivered  in  connection  therewith,  together  with all
amendments  and waivers  thereto,  accompanied  by a certificate  of a Principal
Officer  dated the Date of Closing of the  Company to such  effect.  No material
provision  of  any  of  the  foregoing   agreements  shall  have  been  amended,
supplemented  or otherwise  modified or waived without the prior written consent
of each Purchaser.

         3L.  MATERIAL  AGREEMENTS.  Each Purchaser  shall have received a true,
correct and duly executed copy of each of the Material  Agreements  specified on
Schedule 3L, including all schedules and exhibits  thereto and side letters,  if
any, affecting the terms thereof or delivered in connection therewith,  together
with all  amendments  and waivers  thereto  and any  documents,  instruments  or
certificates  executed and delivered in connection  therewith  accompanied  by a
certificate  of a Principal  Officer dated the Date of Closing of the Company to
such effect.



<PAGE>


                                                                        

         3M.  EXPENSES.  All of the reasonable  fees and  disbursements  of each
Purchaser (including without limitation special counsel to the Purchasers) shall
have been paid in full.

         3N. OTHER  DOCUMENTS.  Each  Purchaser  shall have  received such other
certificates,  legal opinions and documents as such Purchaser or special counsel
to the Purchasers may reasonably request,  all in form and substance  reasonably
satisfactory to each Purchaser.

         4.       PREPAYMENTS.  The Notes shall be subject to prepayment with
respect to the required prepayments specified in paragraph 4A, as applicable,
and the optional prepayments permitted by paragraph 4B.

         4A.  REQUIRED  PREPAYMENTS.  Until the Notes shall be paid in full, the
Company shall apply to the  prepayment of the Notes,  without  premium,  the sum
opposite the dates set forth below on such dates:

                   $3,000,000                     September 26, 2000
                   $3,000,000                     September 26, 2001
                   $3,000,000                     September 26, 2002
                   $3,000,000                     September 26, 2003

and such principal  amounts of the Notes,  together with interest thereon to the
prepayment  dates,  shall become due on such  prepayment  dates.  The  remaining
$3,000,000  principal  amount  of the  Notes,  together  with  interest  accrued
thereon,  shall  become due on the maturity  date of the Notes on September  26,
2004.

         4B. OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT WITH YIELD-MAINTENANCE  AMOUNT. The Notes shall
be subject to prepayment,  in whole at any time or from time to time in part (in
multiples of $250,000),  at the option of the Company,  at 100% of the principal
amount  so  prepaid  plus  interest  thereon  to the  prepayment  date  and  the
Yield-Maintenance  Amount,  if any,  with  respect  to each  Note.  Any  partial
prepayment  of the Notes  pursuant  to this  paragraph  4B shall be  applied  in
satisfaction  of  required  payments  of  principal  in  inverse  order of their
scheduled due dates.  Any prepayment  made by the Company  pursuant to any other
provision  of this  paragraph  4,  shall not  reduce  or  otherwise  effect  its
obligations to make any prepayment required by paragraph 4A.

         4C. NOTICE OF OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT. The Company shall give the holder of
each Note irrevocable  written notice of any prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4B
not less than 10 Business Days prior to the  prepayment  date,  specifying  such
prepayment date and the principal amount of the Notes, and of the


<PAGE>


                                                                              

Notes held by such  holder,  to be prepaid  on such date and  stating  that such
prepayment is to be made  pursuant to paragraph 4B. Notice of prepayment  having
been given as  aforesaid,  the principal  amount of the Notes  specified in such
notice,  together with interest thereon to the prepayment date and together with
the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect thereto, shall become due and
payable on such prepayment date.

         4D.  PARTIAL  PAYMENTS  PRO RATA.  Upon any partial  prepayment  of the
Notes,  the  principal  amount so prepaid shall be allocated to all Notes having
the same maturity  date,  interest rate and payment terms (all Notes in any such
issue  being  referred  to as  the  "SERIES  NOTES")  at  the  time  outstanding
(including, for the purpose of this paragraph 4D only, all such Notes prepaid or
otherwise  retired or purchased  or otherwise  acquired by the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries or Affiliates  other than by prepayment  pursuant to paragraph
4A) in proportion to the respective outstanding principal amounts of such Series
Notes.  All  prepayments  of the Notes and any other  payments on account of the
Notes or hereunder or any other  Related  Document  shall be made not later than
12:00 noon, Eastern time, on the date when due.

         4E. RETIREMENT OF NOTES. The Company shall not and shall not permit any
of its  Subsidiaries or Affiliates to, prepay or otherwise retire in whole or in
part  prior  to  their  stated  final  maturity  (other  than by  prepayment  in
accordance with paragraphs 4A or 4B or upon  acceleration of such final maturity
pursuant  to  paragraph  7A),  or  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  directly or
indirectly,  any  Series  Note held by any  holder  unless  the  Company or such
Subsidiary  or Affiliate  shall have  offered to prepay or  otherwise  retire or
purchase or otherwise  acquire,  as the case may be, the same  proportion of the
aggregate  principal  amount of Series  Notes held by each other  holder of such
Notes at the time outstanding  upon the same terms and conditions.  Any Notes so
prepaid or otherwise  retired or purchased or otherwise  acquired by the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries or Affiliates  shall not be deemed to be outstanding
for any purpose under this Agreement, except as provided in paragraph 4D.

         4F. CHANGE IN CONTROL.  If within 30 Business Days of the date on which
a Significant Holder has knowledge that a Change of Control Event has occurred a
Purchaser  shall request that the Company  prepay in full the Notes held by such
Purchaser, the Company shall pay within 10 Business Days of such request to such
Purchaser an amount equal to the aggregate  outstanding principal amount of such
Notes,   together   with   interest   thereon   to  the   prepayment   date  and
Yield-Maintenance  Amount,  if any, with respect thereto.  Each Purchaser may at
any time by notice in writing to the Company (subject to the following  proviso)
irrevocably relinquish its right (but not the right of any subsequent holder) to
request the repurchase of its Notes under this paragraph 4F, provided that such


<PAGE>


                                                                       

relinquishment  shall  automatically  become  ineffective  upon  receipt  by the
Company of a request  from any other holder of any Notes for the  repurchase  of
such Notes in accordance  with this paragraph 4F. Upon receipt by the Company of
such a request for  repurchase,  the Company  shall  provide,  within 5 Business
Days, notice of such request to the Purchasers, including any Purchaser that has
irrevocably  relinquished  the right to request  repurchase under this Paragraph
4F.

         4G.  PILLSBURY  PAYMENTS.  If a  Termination  Event (as  defined in the
Pledge  Agreement)  shall occur, the Company shall prepay the Notes in an amount
equal to each Purchaser's  Percentage  Interest (as defined in the Intercreditor
Agreement) of the aggregate  amount of payments made by Pillsbury to the Company
on the date of such Termination Event in satisfaction of any account  receivable
owed by Pillsbury to the Company.

         5.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

         5A.      REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

         5A(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION. The Company covenants
that it will deliver to each Significant Holder in duplicate:

                  (i) as soon as  practicable  and in any  event  within 45 days
         after the end of each  quarterly  period (other than the last quarterly
         period) in each fiscal year,

                           (1) Consolidated  statements of income and cash flows
                  of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  for the period from the
                  beginning  of the current  fiscal year to the end of each such
                  quarterly period, and

                           (2) a  Consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and
                  its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarterly period,

         setting  forth  in  each  case  in  comparative  form  figures  for the
         corresponding  period in the preceding  fiscal year,  all in reasonable
         detail  and  satisfactory  in  form  to  the  Significant  Holders  and
         certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company, subject to
         changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments;  provided, however,
         that delivery (within the time period specified above) of the Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for such quarterly period filed with
         the Securities and Exchange  Commission  shall be deemed to satisfy the
         requirements of this clause (i);



<PAGE>


                                                                        

                  (ii) as soon as  practicable  and in any event  within 90 days
         after the end of each fiscal year,

                           (1)  consolidating  and  Consolidated  statements  of
                  income and cash flows and stockholders'  equity of the Company
                  and its Subsidiaries for such year, and

                           (2) a consolidating and Consolidated balance sheet of
                  the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year,

         setting  forth  in  each  case  in   comparative   form   corresponding
         Consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in reasonable
         detail and  satisfactory  in form to the Required  Holder(s) and, as to
         the  Consolidated   statements,   reported  on  by  independent  public
         accountants of recognized standing selected by the Company whose report
         shall  be  without  limitation  as  to  the  scope  of  the  audit  and
         satisfactory in substance to the Required Holder(s); provided, however,
         that delivery  (within the time period  specified  above) of the Annual
         Report of the  Company on Form 10-K for such fiscal year filed with the
         Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  shall be deemed to  satisfy  the
         requirements of this clause (ii);

                  (iii) promptly upon transmission  thereof,  copies of all such
         financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall
         send  to  its  public  stockholders  and  copies  of  all  registration
         statements  (without  exhibits) and all reports which it files with the
         Securities and Exchange  Commission (or any governmental body or agency
         succeeding to the functions of the Securities and Exchange  Commission)
         and copies of all press  releases  reporting  financial  results of the
         Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any material  development  with
         respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (iv) promptly upon receipt thereof, the Annual Pack Plan to be
         delivered  pursuant to Section 4.1 of the  Alliance  Agreement  and all
         adjustments  thereto  and a  reconciliation  report  dated  as  of  the
         Company's  fiscal  year-end  setting  forth,  among other  things,  any
         adjustments to Transfer  Prices (as defined in the Alliance  Agreement)
         and the Management Fee (as defined in the Alliance  Agreement) and such
         other  information  with respect to or delivered in connection with the
         Alliance Agreement as such Significant Holder may reasonably request;

                  (v) promptly upon completion,  the Seneca Projection  prepared
         in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Alliance Agreement;



<PAGE>


                                                                           

                  (vi) as soon as  practicable  and in any event  within 45 days
         after  the end of each of the  first  three  quarterly  periods  of the
         current  fiscal  year  and  within  90 days  after  the end of the last
         quarterly  period of the  current  fiscal  year,  with  respect  to the
         Central  Division  (as defined in the  Alliance  Agreement),  a balance
         sheet,  a profit and loss  statement and a statement of cash flows,  in
         each case, in reasonable detail and specifying separately the financial
         information  attributable  to the  Alliance  Agreement  and any amounts
         Pillsbury  would be required to pay pursuant to Section  19.2(a) of the
         Alliance Agreement if a termination was effective as of the last day of
         the  applicable  quarterly  period  assuming a termination by Pillsbury
         pursuant to Section 19.1(a)(i) of the Alliance Agreement;

                  (vii) promptly upon receipt thereof, notice of receipt of each
         other report  submitted to the Company or any Subsidiary after the Date
         of Closing by independent  accountants  in connection  with any annual,
         interim or special audit made by such  accountants  of the books of the
         Company or any such  Subsidiary  addressed to the Board of Directors of
         the Company or any committee thereof and, upon request of a Significant
         Holder,  an  opportunity  to  review  the  same at the  offices  of the
         Company;

                  (viii)  promptly and in any event,  within  twenty days,  with
         respect to the Pillsbury  Agreements,  and within ten days with respect
         to the Bank Facility, after the Company knows or has reason to know (A)
         of any material  failure to perform,  breach or default by any party to
         the Pillsbury Agreements,  or any other event of default,  under any of
         the Pillsbury Agreements,  or (B) of any event of default, or any event
         or  condition  which  with  notice  or  lapse  of time  or  both  would
         constitute an event of default under the Bank Facility; and

                  (ix)  Within  10 days  after  the date as of  which  financial
         information is required to be delivered  pursuant to clause (i) of this
         paragraph  5A(1), a report as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter  covered
         by such financial  information  setting forth the Company's  sales, for
         such Fiscal Quarter and for the current year to date, and inventory, as
         of the end of such  Fiscal  Quarter,  separately  for all of its  Green
         Giant brand products and for all other products; and

                  (x) with reasonable  promptness,  such other financial data as
         such Significant Holder may reasonably request.

         5A(2)  OFFICER'S  CERTIFICATE.  Together  with  each  delivery  of  the
financial  statements required by clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph 5A(1) above,
the  Company  shall  deliver  a  certificate   of  a  Principal   Officer  (with
computations in reasonable


<PAGE>


                                                                           

detail) demonstrating  compliance with paragraphs 6A, 6B and 6C(1) through 6C(3)
and setting forth (except to the extent specifically set forth in such financial
statements) the aggregate  amount of interest accrued on each of Funded Debt and
Current Debt  (without  duplication)  of the Company and  Subsidiaries  (if any)
during the fiscal period covered by such financial  statements and the aggregate
amounts of depreciation on physical property charged on the books of the Company
and Subsidiaries (if any) during such fiscal period, and identifying the 45 days
selected by the Company for  purposes  of the  defined  term  "FUNDED  DEBT" and
stating  that there  exists no Event of Default or Default,  or, if any Event of
Default or Default exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof
and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

         5A(3)  ANNUAL  ACCOUNTANT'S  LETTER.  Together  with each  delivery  of
financial  statements  required by clause (ii) of  paragraph  5A(1)  above,  the
Company  will  deliver  to  each  Significant   Holder  a  certificate  of  such
accountants stating that, in making the audit necessary for their report on such
financial  statements,  they  are  familiar  with the  respective  terms of this
Agreement and the Alliance Agreement and have obtained no knowledge of any Event
of Default  or  Default,  or, if they have  obtained  knowledge  of any Event of
Default or Default,  specifying the nature and period of existence thereof. Such
accountants,  however,  shall not be liable to anyone by reason of their failure
to obtain  knowledge  of any Event of  Default  or  Default  which  would not be
disclosed  in the course of an audit  conducted  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted auditing standards.

         5A(4) SPECIAL  INFORMATION.  The Company also  covenants that forthwith
upon a Principal Officer of the Company obtaining knowledge of:

                  (i)      an Event of Default or Default;

                  (ii)  the  commencement  of any  Strategic  Review  Board  (as
         defined in the Alliance  Agreement) review related to any dispute under
         the Alliance  Agreement and material  development  with respect to such
         dispute;

                  (iii) a notice of termination  delivered by Pillsbury pursuant
         to the Alliance Agreement;

                  (iv) a material  adverse  change in the  financial  condition,
         business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a
         whole;

                  (v) the institution of legal  proceedings  against the Company
         and/or any Subsidiary, which has a reasonable possibility of materially
         adversely affecting the financial condition,  business or operations of
         such Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or which in any
         manner


<PAGE>


                                                                        

         draws into question the validity of or has a reasonable  possibility of
         impairing the ability of the Company to perform its  obligations  under
         this Agreement or any other Related Document to which it is a party; or

                  (vi) any (A) Environmental  Liabilities which  individually or
         in the aggregate could have a material  adverse effect on the business,
         condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, (B) pending, threatened or anticipated
         Environmental  Proceedings  which if  decided  adversely  could  have a
         material  adverse  effect  on the  business,  condition  (financial  or
         otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  taken as
         a whole, (C) Environmental  Notices,  (D)  Environmental  Judgments and
         Orders, or (E)  Environmental  Releases at, on, in, under or in any way
         materially affecting the Properties;

the Company will  deliver to each  Significant  Holder an Officer's  Certificate
specifying  the nature  and  period of  existence  thereof  and what  action the
Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

         5B.  INFORMATION  REQUIRED BY RULE 144A. The Company  covenants that it
will, upon the request of the holder of any Note,  provide such holder,  and any
qualified  institutional  buyer  designated by such holder,  such  financial and
other  information  as such holder may  reasonably  determine to be necessary in
order to permit compliance with the information  requirements of Rule 144A under
the Securities Act in connection with the resale of Notes,  except at such times
as the Company is subject to the reporting  requirements  of section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act. For the purpose of this  paragraph 5B, the term  "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER"  shall have the meaning  specified  in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act.

         5C.  INSPECTION OF PROPERTY.  The Company covenants that it will permit
any Person designated by any Significant Holder in writing,  at such Significant
Holder's expense,  to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and
its  Subsidiaries,  to examine the corporate books and financial  records of the
Company and its Subsidiaries  and make copies thereof or extracts  therefrom and
to discuss the affairs,  finances and accounts of any of such  corporations with
the Principal  Officers of the Company and its independent  public  accountants,
all at such  reasonable  times  and as  often  as such  Significant  Holder  may
reasonably request.

         5D. COVENANT TO SECURE NOTES EQUALLY. The Company covenants that, if it
or any  Subsidiary  shall  create or assume any Lien upon any of its property or
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Liens permitted by


<PAGE>


                                                                   

the provisions of paragraph  6C(1) (unless prior written consent to the creation
or assumption  thereof shall have been obtained  pursuant to paragraph  11C), it
will make or cause to be made  effective  provision  whereby  the Notes  will be
secured by such Lien  equally  and ratably  with any and all other Debt  thereby
secured so long as any such other Debt shall be so secured.

         5E. GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS. The Company covenants that if, at any time,
after the date hereof, it or any of its Subsidiaries  incurs or permits to exist
any Debt or other  obligation  (other than a performance bond or trade letter of
credit or letter of credit  issued with respect to  insurance  coverages or like
financial  accommodation  and,  in any case,  issued in the  ordinary  course of
business)  Guaranteed or collateralized in any other manner by any other Person,
it will  simultaneously  cause such other  Person to execute and deliver to each
holder  of any  Note a  guaranty  agreement  in form  and  substance  reasonably
satisfactory to such holder guaranteeing  payment of the principal amount of the
Notes and any premium and  interest  thereon,  which bears the same ratio to the
total  unpaid  principal  amount  of the  Notes  as the  amount  of  such  other
obligation  which is guaranteed  bears to the total unpaid  principal  amount of
such  other  obligation,  or if such  other  obligation  is  collateralized,  to
collateralize  the  Notes  equally  and  ratably  with  such  other  obligation;
provided,  however,  that the provisions of this paragraph 5E shall not apply to
guaranties or collateral  provided by an industrial  development agency or other
governmental   agency  or   entity  in   connection   with  any   financing   or
sale-and-leaseback  transaction  involving  that  agency or entity  which is not
prohibited by other provisions of this Agreement.

         5F.  CORPORATE  EXISTENCE,  ETC. Subject to the provisions of paragraph
6C(5), the Company covenants that it will at all times preserve and keep in full
force and effect its corporate existence,  and rights and franchises material to
its business,  and those of each of its Subsidiaries and will qualify, and cause
each of its Subsidiaries to qualify,  to do business in any  jurisdiction  where
the  failure  to do so would  have a material  adverse  effect on the  financial
condition or  operations of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,
provided that the corporate  existence of any such Subsidiary may be terminated,
if, in the good faith  judgment of the Board of Directors  of the Company,  such
termination is in the best  interests of the Company and is not  disadvantageous
to the holders of any of the Notes.

         5G.  PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS.  The Company  covenants that it will,
and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay before they become delinquent:

                  (i)      all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges
         imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any
         of its


<PAGE>


                                                                               

         franchises, business, income or property before any penalty or
         significant interest accrues thereon, and

                  (ii) all claims  (including,  without  limitation,  claims for
         labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums which have become due
         and  payable and which by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its
         properties or assets;

provided, that items of the foregoing need not be paid which are being contested
in good faith by appropriate  proceedings and if such accrual,  reserve or other
appropriate  provision,  if any,  as shall be  required  by  generally  accepted
accounting principles shall have been made therefor.

         5H.  COMPLIANCE  WITH LAWS,  ETC.  The Company  covenants  that it will
comply  and  cause  its  Subsidiaries  to comply  with the  requirements  of all
applicable laws,  rules,  regulations and orders of any governmental  authority,
except where the  necessity of  compliance  is being  contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves or other provisions therefor shall
have been  established on the books of the Company in accordance  with generally
accepted  accounting  principles  or where  the  failure  to  comply  would  not
materially adversely affect the financial condition or operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         5I. NO  INTEGRATION.  The Company  covenants that it has taken and will
continue to take all  necessary  steps so that the issuance of the Notes has not
and  will not  require  registration  under  the  Securities  Act.  The  Company
covenants that no future offer and sale of debt securities of the Company of any
class will be made if, as a result of the doctrine of "integration",  there is a
reasonable  possibility that such offer and sale would result in the loss of the
entitlement of the Notes to the exemption from the registration  requirements of
the Securities Act.

         5J.  MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE.  The Company  covenants that it and each
Subsidiary will maintain,  with responsible insurers,  insurance with respect to
its  properties  and  business   against  such   casualties  and   contingencies
(including,  but not limited to, product  liability and public liability) and in
such  amounts as is customary  in the case of  similarly  situated  corporations
engaged in the same or similar businesses and in any event reasonably acceptable
to the Required Holder(s).

         5K.  REDUCTION IN BANK FACILITY  DEBT.  The Company  covenants that its
outstanding  principal  indebtedness  under the Bank  Facility  will not  exceed
$30,000,000 for a continuous  period of not less than 30 days within each of the
following periods:


<PAGE>


                                                                              

                  November 1, 1997, through April 30, 1998; and
                           November 1, 1998, through April 30, 1999.

         5L.  OTHER  COVENANTS.  If (in the  reasonable  opinion of the Required
Holders) at any time and from time to time,  after the date  hereof,  any of the
covenants,  representations  and  warranties or events of default,  or any other
material term or provision (other than any term or provision relating to payment
terms,  interest rates or penalties),  contained in the Bank Facility, or in any
document,  agreement or instrument from time to time entered into by the Company
in respect thereof,  is more favorable to the banks under the Bank Facility than
are the terms of this  Agreement  to the  holders of the Notes,  this  Agreement
shall be amended to contain each such more  favorable  covenant,  representation
and warranty, event of default, term or provision, and the Company hereby agrees
to so amend  this  Agreement  and to  execute  and  deliver  all such  documents
requested by the Required  Holder(s)  to reflect  such  Amendment.  Prior to the
execution and delivery of such documents by the Company, this Agreement shall be
deemed  to  contain  each  such  more  favorable  covenant,  representation  and
warranty,  event of default,  term or provision for purposes of determining  the
rights and obligations hereunder.

         6.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

         6A.      CURRENT RATIO AND INTEREST COVERAGE.   The Company covenants
that it will not permit at any time:

                  (i) the ratio of Current  Assets to Current  Liabilities to be
         less than 1.25 to 1.0 for each  Fiscal  Quarter  ending  September  and
         December and 1.50 to 1.0 for all other Fiscal Quarters;

                  (ii) the  Interest  Coverage  Ratio  for its four  consecutive
         Fiscal  Quarters most recently ended during any period  specified below
         to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such period:

                           June 28, 1997 through December 31, 1997     1.75 to 1
                           January 1, 1998 through March 31, 1999      2.00 to 1
                           April 1, 1999 through March 31, 2001        2.20 to 1
                           April 1, 2001 and thereafter                2.40 to 1

                  (iii) at any time,  the excess of Current  Assets over Current
         Liabilities  during  any  period  specified  below to be less  than the
         amount set forth opposite such period:

                  March 31, 1997 through March 31, 1998            $90,000,000


<PAGE>


                                                                               

                  April 1, 1998 through March 31, 1999            $100,000,000
                  April 1, 1999 and thereafter                    $110,000,000

         6B. DIVIDEND LIMITATION. The Company covenants that it will not (a) pay
or declare any dividend on any class of its stock or make any other distribution
on account of any class of its stock, or redeem,  purchase or otherwise acquire,
directly  or  indirectly,  any shares of its stock (all of the  foregoing  being
herein called  "RESTRICTED  PAYMENTS"),  or (b) make any Restricted  Investment,
except out of  Consolidated  Net Earnings  Available  For  Restricted  Payments.
"CONSOLIDATED  NET  EARNINGS"  shall mean  consolidated  gross  revenues  of the
Company and its Subsidiaries,  less all operating and non-operating  expenses of
the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  including all charges of a proper  character
(including  current  and  deferred  taxes  on  income,  provision  for  taxes on
unremitted  foreign  earnings which are included in gross revenues,  and current
additions to reserves),  but not  including in gross  revenues any gains (net of
expenses and taxes  applicable  thereto) in excess of losses  resulting from the
sale, conversion or other disposition of capital assets (i.e., assets other than
Current Assets),  any gains resulting from the write-up of assets, any equity of
the Company or any  Subsidiary  in the  unremitted  earnings of any  corporation
which is not a Subsidiary, any earnings of any Person acquired by the Company or
any Subsidiary  through  purchase,  merger or consolidation or otherwise for any
year prior to the year of acquisition,  or any deferred credit  representing the
excess of equity in any Subsidiary at the date of  acquisition  over the cost of
the investment in such  Subsidiary,  all determined in accordance with generally
accepted  accounting  principles.   "CONSOLIDATED  NET  EARNINGS  AVAILABLE  FOR
RESTRICTED  PAYMENTS"  shall mean an amount  equal to (i) the sum of  $1,000,000
plus 50% (or minus 100% in case of a deficit) of  Consolidated  Net Earnings for
the period (taken as one  accounting  period)  commencing on August 1, 1994, and
terminating  at the end of the last  fiscal  quarter  preceding  the date of any
proposed  Restricted  Payment,  less (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of
all  dividends  and other  distributions  paid or declared by the Company on any
class of its stock after July 31, 1994,  (B) the excess of the aggregate  amount
expended,  directly or  indirectly,  after July 31,  1994,  for the  redemption,
purchase  or other  acquisition  of any shares of its stock  over the  aggregate
amount  received after July 31, 1994 as the net cash proceeds of the sale of any
shares of its stock and (C) the aggregate amount of Restricted  Investments made
after July 31, 1994.  There shall not be included in  Restricted  Payments or in
any computation of Consolidated Net Earnings Available For Restricted  Payments:
(x) dividends  paid,  or  distributions  made,  in stock of the Company;  or (y)
exchanges  of stock of one or more classes of the Company for other stock of the
Company,  except to the  extent  that cash or other  value is  involved  in such
exchange.  There shall not be  included in  Restricted  Payments  the  following
dividends payable in cash upon preferred stocks of the Company:  (u) accumulated
dividends for [insert description of preferred stock] in the total


<PAGE>


                                                                              

amount of $34,771.50 for three semi-annual periods ending June 30, 1997; and (v)
dividends  [insert  description  of  preferred  stock] not  exceeding a total of
$11,590.50 per semi-annual  period for each semi-annual  period beginning on and
after July 1, 1997.  The term "STOCK" as used in this paragraph 6B shall include
warrants or options to purchase stock. There shall not be included in Restricted
Payments the payment of the following dividends,  payable in cash by the Company
(i)  accumulated  dividends on its 6% Cumulative  Preferred Stock par value $.25
per share  (200,000  shares  outstanding)  and on its 10%  Cumulative  Preferred
Stock,  par value $.25 per share (807,240  shares  outstanding)  in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $34,771.50, and (ii) dividends accruing at the same rate on
such  Cumulative  Preferred  Stock not  exceeding an  aggregate  amount equal to
$11,590.50 for any six-month period commencing on and after July 1, 1997.

         6C.      LIEN, DEBT AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.  The Company covenants that
it will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to:

         6C(1) LIENS. Create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its
property or assets,  whether  now owned or  hereafter  acquired  (whether or not
provision is made for the equal and ratable  securing of the Notes in accordance
with the provisions of paragraph 5C), except

                  (i) Liens for taxes  (including ad valorem and property taxes)
         not yet due or which  are being  actively  contested  in good  faith by
         appropriate proceedings,

                  (ii) other Liens  incidental to the conduct of its business or
         the  ownership  of its  property  and assets which were not incurred in
         connection  with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or
         credit,  and which do not in the aggregate  materially detract from the
         value of its property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in
         the operation of its business,

                  (iii) Liens on property  or assets of a  Subsidiary  to secure
         obligations of such Subsidiary to the Company or another Subsidiary,

                  (iv) any Lien existing on any property of any  corporation  at
         the time it  becomes a  Subsidiary,  or  existing  prior to the time of
         acquisition upon any property acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary
         through purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise,  whether or not
         assumed by the Company or such  Subsidiary,  or placed upon property at
         the time of  acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary to secure all
         or a portion of (or to secure Debt incurred to pay all or a portion of)
         the purchase price


<PAGE>


                                                                    
         thereof, provided that any such Lien shall not encumber any other
         property of the Company or any Subsidiary,

                  (v)  any  Lien  renewing,  extending  or  refunding  any  Lien
         permitted  by clause (iv) above,  provided  that the  principal  amount
         secured is not  increased,  and the Lien is not  extended  to any other
         property of the Company or any Subsidiary,

                  (vi) the  extension  of  existing  Liens on real  property  to
         fixtures subsequently attached to such real property,

                  (vii) any Lien  securing  Funded Debt  permitted  by paragraph
         6C(2) and listed on Schedule 8D hereto attached;

                  (viii) any common law right of setoff or banker's lien arising
         (whether by law,  contract or otherwise)  in  connection  with ordinary
         course of business  deposit  arrangements  maintained by the Company or
         its Subsidiaries with its banks or other financial institutions so long
         as any such bank or other financial institution (A) shall be a party to
         the Bank Facility and the Intercreditor Agreement, (B) shall not at any
         time  make  loans or  otherwise  extend  credit to the  Company  or any
         Subsidiary,  (C) does not maintain accounts (for the deposit of cash or
         otherwise) for the benefit of the Company or any Subsidiary,  (D) shall
         have  delivered  to each holder of a Note a Sharing  Letter,  (E) shall
         have  waived in writing  for the  benefit of each holder of a Note such
         common law right of setoff or  banker's  lien or (F) holds no more than
         $100,000 of  obligations  owed to the Company or any Subsidiary and the
         total of all such obligations permitted solely by this clause (F) shall
         not exceed $500,000; and

                  (ix) any Lien to the  banks a party  to the Bank  Facility  so
         long as the Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect;

provided  that the  aggregate  amount of Debt  secured by all such  Liens  under
clauses  (iv),  (v) or (vii) above does not violate  clause  (iii) of  paragraph
6C(2).

         6C(2) DEBT. Maintain,  create, incur, assume or in any other way become
liable in respect of any Debt, at any time, if:

                  (i) the aggregate  outstanding  amount of Consolidated  Senior
         Funded Debt, whether Secured or Unsecured,  exceeds an aggregate amount
         equal to the applicable percentage of Consolidated Tangible Gross Worth
         set forth below for any date of determination:



<PAGE>


                                                                           

                  April 1, 1997 through
                     December 31, 1997                                  62%

                  January 1, 1998 through
                     March 31, 1999                                     58%

                  April 1, 1999 through
                     March 31, 2000                                     54%

                  For any date on or after
                     April 1, 2000                                      50%

                  (ii) the aggregate  outstanding  amount of Consolidated  Total
         Funded  Debt  exceeds  an  aggregate  amount  equal  to the  applicable
         percentage of Consolidated Tangible Gross Worth set forth below for any
         date of determination:

                  DATE OF DETERMINATION                             PERCENTAGE

                  April 1, 1997 through
                     December 31, 1997                                   78%

                  January 1, 1998 through
                      March 31, 1999                                     76%

                  April 1, 1999 through
                     March 31, 2000                                      73%

                  April 1, 2000 through
                     March 31, 2001                                      70%

                  For any date on or after
                     April 1, 2001                                       65%

         ; provided,  however,  that if after the date hereof the Company  shall
         reduce (by conversion to equity,  optional prepayment or otherwise) its
         Subordinated  Debt by an aggregate  amount equal to $20,000,000 or more
         (the "SUB DEBT REDUCTION"),  the Company agrees to adjust the foregoing
         ratios to take into account the Sub Debt Reduction to levels acceptable
         to the Required  Holders,  such adjustment to occur as soon as possible
         and in no event later than 60 days after the Sub Debt Reduction.



<PAGE>


                                                                             

                  (iii)  the  aggregate  amount  of  Priority  Debt  exceeds  an
         aggregate amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

         6C(3) LOANS, ADVANCES,  INVESTMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. Make or
permit to remain  outstanding  any loan or advance to, or guarantee,  endorse or
otherwise  be  or  become  contingently  liable,  directly  or  indirectly,   in
connection  with the  obligations,  stock or dividends  of, or own,  purchase or
acquire any stock,  obligations  or securities  of, or any other interest in, or
make any capital  contribution  to, any  Person,  except that the Company or any
Subsidiary may

                  (i)  make or permit to remain outstanding loans or advances to
         any Subsidiary,

                  (ii) own, purchase or acquire stock, obligations or securities
         of a  Subsidiary  or of a  corporation  which  immediately  after  such
         purchase or acquisition will be a Subsidiary,

                  (iii) acquire and own stock,  obligations or securities having
         an aggregate  value of less than  $500,000  received in  settlement  of
         debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to the Company
         or any Subsidiary,

                  (iv) own,  purchase or acquire (A) prime commercial paper of a
         domestic issuer rated at least A-1 or P-1, (B)  certificates of deposit
         with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued
         by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or
         any foreign bank  operating  within the United States of America or any
         Canadian  bank (in any  case,  having  capital  resources  in excess of
         $500,000,000 or the Canadian dollar  equivalent,  and a short term debt
         rating of A-1 or P-1 and a long term debt rating of A or higher or with
         respect to any  Canadian  bank,  the  rating  equivalent  thereof)  and
         denominated  in U.S.  dollars or (C) direct  obligations  of the United
         States Government or any agency thereof, and obligations  guaranteed by
         the United States Government,  with maturities of one year or less from
         the date of acquisition,

                  (v) endorse negotiable instruments for collection in the 
         ordinary course of business,

                  (vi)     guarantee obligations of Subsidiaries which are not
         prohibited by paragraph 6C(2),



<PAGE>


                                                                        

                  (vii)  guarantee  obligations  of  grower  cooperatives,  such
         guarantees  to be limited to  transactions  in the  ordinary  course of
         business  for the  purpose of  obtaining  agricultural  products  to be
         marketed by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries,

                  (viii)  guarantee the  industrial  revenue bonds  described in
         Schedule  8D hereto  attached  and other  bonds or  obligations  (in an
         aggregate  principal amount with respect to an individual  issuance not
         in excess of $10,000,000) issued by industrial  development agencies or
         other  governmental  agencies or entities,  which bonds or  obligations
         constitute debt which, if the Company were the primary  obligor,  would
         not be prohibited by other provisions of this Agreement,

                  (ix)  permit  to remain  outstanding  such  guaranties  as are
         listed on Schedule  6C(3) hereto  attached and  guaranties  issued with
         respect to renewals, replacements, extensions or refundings of the debt
         guaranteed by the guaranties listed in Schedule 6C(3), and

                  (x) continue to hold the  investments  the cost of which shall
         not exceed  $6,079,000 in the form of capital stock of Moog, Inc. as of
         the Date of Closing (the "MOOG INVESTMENT"), and

                  (xi) make or permit to remain  outstanding  loans or  advances
         to, or guarantee, endorse or otherwise be or become contingently liable
         in  connection  with the  obligations,  stock or dividends  of, or own,
         purchase or acquire  stock,  obligations  or  securities  of, any other
         Person,  provided that the aggregate principal amount of such loans and
         advances,  plus the aggregate  amount of such  contingent  liabilities,
         plus  (without   duplication)   the  aggregate  amount  of  liabilities
         permitted by clauses (i) and (v) of paragraph 6C(8), plus the aggregate
         amount of the investment (at original cost) in such stock,  obligations
         and  securities  at any  time  outstanding  for  the  Company  and  all
         Subsidiaries   exclusive  of  the  Moog   Investment   (herein   called
         "RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS"),  shall not exceed the amount permitted under
         paragraph  6B; and  further  provided  that no  Subsidiary  (other than
         Marion Foods,  Inc., SSP Company,  Inc. and Seneca Foods  International
         Ltd.)  shall  make  any loan or  advance  to,  or  acquire  any  stock,
         obligations or securities of, the Company.

         6C(4) SALE OF STOCK AND DEBT OF SUBSIDIARIES. Sell or otherwise dispose
of, or part with  control  of, any shares of stock or Funded or Current  Debt of
any Subsidiary, except to the Company or another Subsidiary, and except that all
shares of stock and Debt of any  Subsidiary  at the time owned by or owed to the
Company and any Subsidiary may be sold as an entirety for a cash consideration


<PAGE>


                                                                

which  represents  the fair value (as  determined  in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company) at the time of sale of the shares of stock and Debt so
sold,  provided that the assets of such Subsidiary do not constitute 10% or more
of  Consolidated  Tangible  Gross Worth for the fiscal  year then most  recently
ended  and  that  such  Subsidiary  shall  not have  contributed  10% or more of
Consolidated  Net Earnings for any of the three fiscal years then most  recently
ended,  and further  provided  that, at the time of such sale,  such  Subsidiary
shall not own, directly or indirectly,  any shares of stock or Debt of any other
Subsidiary  (unless all of the shares of stock and Debt of such other Subsidiary
owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by  the  Company  and  all  Subsidiaries  are
simultaneously being sold as permitted by this paragraph 6C(4));

         6C(5) MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS.  Merge or  consolidate  with any other
corporation or sell, lease or transfer or otherwise dispose of assets if the net
value of all  assets  so  disposed  of  constitute  10% or more of  Consolidated
Tangible  Gross Worth for the fiscal year then most  recently  ended,  or assets
which shall have contributed 10% or more of Consolidated Net Earnings for any of
the three fiscal years then most recently ended, to any Person, except that

                  (i) any Subsidiary  may merge with the Company  (provided that
         the Company shall be the continuing or surviving  corporation)  or with
         any one or more other Subsidiaries,

                  (ii) any  Subsidiary  may sell,  lease,  transfer or otherwise
         dispose of any of its assets to the Company or another Subsidiary,

                  (iii) any Subsidiary  may sell or otherwise  dispose of all or
         substantially all of its assets subject to the conditions  specified in
         paragraph 6C(4) with respect to a sale of the stock of such Subsidiary,

                  (iv)  the  Company  may  merge  with  any  other  corporation,
         provided  that (A) the Company  shall be the  continuing  or  surviving
         corporation,  and  (B)  the  Company  as the  continuing  or  surviving
         corporation  shall not,  immediately  after such merger,  be in default
         under this  Agreement or on the Notes,  including all covenants  herein
         and therein contained,

                  (v) any  Subsidiary  may merge or  consolidate  with any other
         corporation,  provided  that,  immediately  after giving effect to such
         merger or consolidation (A) the continuing or surviving  corporation of
         such merger or consolidation shall constitute a Subsidiary,  and (B) no
         Event of Default or Default shall exist, and



<PAGE>


                                                                            

                  (vi) the  Company  may  sell,  lease,  transfer  or  otherwise
         dispose of any or all of the assets described in Schedule 6C(5);

         6C(6) SALE AND LEASE-BACK.  Enter into any arrangement  with any lender
or investor or to which such  lender or  investor is a party  providing  for the
leasing by the Company or any Subsidiary of real or personal  property which has
been or is to be sold or  transferred  by the Company or any  Subsidiary to such
lender  or  investor  or to any  Person  to whom  funds  have  been or are to be
advanced by such lender or investor on the  security of such  property or rental
obligations  of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary;  provided,  however,  that the
Company or a Subsidiary may transfer  property to, and lease-back  such property
from,  an  industrial  development  agency  or other  governmental  entity  in a
transaction  described  in  Schedule  6C(6)  hereto  attached  or in a financing
transaction creating debt which is not prohibited under other provisions of this
Agreement;

         6C(7) SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES.  Sell with recourse, or discount
or  otherwise  sell for less than the face  value  thereof,  any of its notes or
accounts receivable; or

         6C(8) CERTAIN CONTRACTS. Except as hereinabove permitted, enter into or
be a party to

                  (i) any contract  providing for the making of loans,  advances
         or capital  contributions to any Person other than a Subsidiary (except
         where the obligation is limited to a maximum amount which is within the
         limitations of clause (xi) of paragraph  6C(3)), or for the purchase of
         any property  (other than purchases of inventory in the ordinary course
         of  business)  from any  Person,  in each case in order to enable  such
         Person to  maintain  working  capital,  net worth or any other  balance
         sheet condition or to pay debts, dividends or expenses, or

                  (ii) any contract for the purchase of  materials,  supplies or
         other  property or services if such contract (or any related  document)
         requires that payment for such materials, supplies or other property or
         services  shall be made  regardless  of whether or not delivery of such
         materials,  supplies  or other  property  or  services  is ever made or
         tendered, or

                  (iii) any  contract  to rent or lease (as  lessee) any real or
         personal property if such contract (or any related  document)  provides
         that  the  obligation  to make  payments  thereunder  is  absolute  and
         unconditional  under  conditions  not  customarily  found in commercial
         leases  then in general  use or  requires  that the lessee  purchase or
         otherwise acquire securities or obligation of the lessor, or


<PAGE>


                                                                       

                  (iv) any contract for the sale or use of  materials,  supplies
         or other property,  or the rendering of services,  if such contract (or
         any  related  document)  requires  that  payment  for  such  materials,
         supplies or other  property,  or the use  thereof,  or payment for such
         services,  shall be subordinated to any  indebtedness (of the purchaser
         or user of such  materials,  supplies  or other  property or the Person
         entitled  to the  benefit of such  services)  owed or to be owed to any
         Person, or

                  (v)  any  other  contract  which,  in  economic   effect,   is
         substantially equivalent to a guarantee, except where the obligation is
         limited to a fixed maximum  amount which is within the  limitations  of
         clause (xi) of paragraph 6C(3).

         6D. ISSUANCE OF STOCK BY  SUBSIDIARIES.  The Company  covenants that it
will not permit any Subsidiary  (either directly,  or indirectly by the issuance
of rights or options for, or securities convertible into, such shares) to issue,
sell or  otherwise  dispose  of any class of its stock  (other  than  directors'
qualifying shares) except to the Company or another Subsidiary.

         6E. NO PREPAYMENT,  MODIFICATION  OR CONSENT.  The Company will not (i)
prepay the Pillsbury  Subordinated  Note except for any  Permitted  Payments (as
defined in the Pillsbury  Subordinated Note) required thereunder and (ii) amend,
modify,  supplement or waive any term,  condition or other  provision of (A) any
Pillsbury  Security Document (other than as contemplated by Section 10.06 of the
Asset  Purchase  Agreement),  (B) the  Pillsbury  Subordinated  Note  (except as
permitted under Section  2.02(a) of the Asset Purchase  Agreement and the second
paragraph of Section 1 of the Pillsbury Subordinated Note), (C) Article XIX (and
related  definitions),  Section 23.8 with respect to Article XIX of the Alliance
Agreement  (and  related  definitions)  or any other  material  provision of the
Alliance Agreement (and related  definitions) or (D) provisions of Sections 7.12
through 7.15 of the Bank Facility or (iii) consent,  if the Company's consent is
so required,  to an  assignment by Pillsbury of the Alliance  Agreement,  in any
case, without the prior written consent of each Significant Holder.

         6F.      PERMITTED ACQUISITIONS.  The Company will not enter into any
Acquisition except Permitted Acquisitions.

         7.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

         7A.  ACCELERATION.  If any of the  following  events shall occur and be
continuing  for any reason  whatsoever  (and  whether such  occurrence  shall be
voluntary  or  involuntary  or come about or be effected by  operation of law or
otherwise):


<PAGE>


                                                                 

                  (i) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal of or
         Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to any Note when the same
         shall  become due,  either by the terms  thereof or otherwise as herein
         provided; or

                  (ii) the Company  defaults  in the payment of any  interest on
         any Note for more than 3 Business Days after the date due; or

                  (iii) the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  defaults  (whether  as
         primary  obligor or as  guarantor  or other  surety) in any  payment of
         principal of or interest on any other obligation for money borrowed (or
         any Capitalized  Lease  Obligation,  any obligation under a conditional
         sale or other  title  retention  agreement,  any  obligation  issued or
         assumed as full or partial payment for property  whether or not secured
         by a purchase money  mortgage or any obligation  under notes payable or
         drafts accepted representing extensions of credit) beyond any period of
         grace provided with respect  thereto,  or the Company or any Subsidiary
         fails to perform  or observe  any other  agreement,  term or  condition
         contained in any agreement  under which any such  obligation is created
         (or if any other event  thereunder  or under any such  agreement  shall
         occur and be continuing)  and the effect of such failure or other event
         is to cause,  or to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or
         a  trustee  on  behalf  of such  holder  or  holders)  to  cause,  such
         obligation  to become  due (or to be  repurchased  or  defeased  by the
         Company or any Subsidiary) prior to any stated maturity; or

                  (iv) any representation or warranty made by the Company herein
         or by the Company or any of its  officers in any writing  furnished  in
         connection  with or  pursuant to this  Agreement  shall be false in any
         material respect on the date as of which made; or

                  (v)      the Company fails to perform or observe any agreement
         contained in paragraph 6; or

                  (vi) the  Company  fails  to  perform  or  observe  any  other
         agreement,  term or condition contained herein,  including  agreements,
         terms or conditions incorporated herein by reference,  and such failure
         shall not be remedied within 30 days after any Principal Officer of the
         Company obtains actual knowledge thereof; or

                  (vii) the Company or any  Subsidiary  makes an assignment  for
         the benefit of creditors  or is generally  not paying its debts as such
         debts become due; or



<PAGE>


                                                                        

                  (viii)  any  decree or order  for  relief  in  respect  of the
         Company   or  any   Subsidiary   is  entered   under  any   bankruptcy,
         reorganization,  compromise,  arrangement,  insolvency, readjustment of
         debt,  dissolution  or  liquidation  or  similar  law,  whether  now or
         hereafter  in effect  (herein  called  the  "BANKRUPTCY  LAW"),  of any
         jurisdiction; or

                  (ix) the Company or any Subsidiary petitions or applies to any
         tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking  possession
         by, a trustee, receiver,  custodian,  liquidator or similar official of
         the Company or any Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets
         of the Company or any  Subsidiary,  or commences a voluntary case under
         the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings  (other than
         proceedings  for  the  voluntary   liquidation  and  dissolution  of  a
         Subsidiary)  relating  to the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  under  the
         Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction; or

                  (x) any such  petition or  application  is filed,  or any such
         proceedings  are  commenced,  against the Company or any Subsidiary and
         the  Company  or such  Subsidiary  by any act  indicates  its  approval
         thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment
         or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver,  custodian,
         liquidator or similar  official,  or approving the petition in any such
         proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in
         effect for more than 60 days; or

                  (xi)  any  order,   judgment  or  decree  is  entered  in  any
         proceedings  against  the  Company  decreeing  the  dissolution  of the
         Company and such  order,  judgment or decree  remains  unstayed  and in
         effect for more than 60 days; or

                  (xii)  any  order,  judgment  or  decree  is  entered  in  any
         proceedings against the Company or any Subsidiary  decreeing a split-up
         of the Company or such Subsidiary which requires (A) the divestiture of
         assets  constituting  10% or more of Consolidated  Tangible Gross Worth
         for the fiscal year then most recently ended, or (B) the divestiture of
         the  stock  of a  Subsidiary  whose  assets  constitute  10% or more of
         Consolidated  Tangible  Gross  Worth  for the  fiscal  year  then  most
         recently  ended,  or (C) the  divestiture  of  assets,  or  stock  of a
         Subsidiary,  which shall have  contributed  10% or more of Consolidated
         Net  Earnings  for any of the three  fiscal  years  then most  recently
         ended,  and,  in any case,  such  order,  judgment  or  decree  remains
         unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or



<PAGE>


                                                               

                  (xiii) a final  judgment in an amount in excess of  $1,000,000
         is rendered  against the Company or any Subsidiary and, on the 60th day
         following  entry  thereof,   such  judgment  remains   undischarged  or
         unvacated or  execution  thereof  remains  unstayed and on such day the
         Company would not be able to incur a principal  amount of Debt pursuant
         to paragraph  6C(2) in an amount equal to the amount of such  judgment,
         or on the 60th day following  expiration of any applicable  stay,  such
         judgment is not discharged or vacated and on such day the Company would
         not be able to incur a principal  amount of Debt  pursuant to paragraph
         6C(2) equal to the amount of such judgment; or

                  (xiv) the security  interest  granted to the Collateral  Agent
         pursuant to the Pledge Agreement shall fail at any time to constitute a
         first  priority  security  interest in or assignment of the  Collateral
         described in such Pledge  Agreement  (except for any failure  caused by
         the  action  or  inaction  of the  Collateral  Agent);  or  the  Pledge
         Agreement  shall  cease to be in full  force and  effect in whole or in
         part for any reason  whatsoever;  or the  Company  or any other  Person
         shall  disavow or  attempt to  terminate  any  provision  of the Pledge
         Agreement; or

                  (xv) an (A) event of default (as defined  therein) shall occur
         under the Bank Facility or any of the Pillsbury Security Documents,  or
         (B) a) a condition to the  availability  of the commitment of the banks
         that  are a party  to the  Bank  Facility  to make  loans  has not been
         satisfied (unless the satisfaction of such condition has been waived or
         subsequently  satisfied)  and b) a majority of such banks shall fail or
         refuse to advance funds under the Bank Facility; or

                  (xvi) any party shall fail to comply with any material term of
         any Related Document to which it is a party (other than this Agreement)
         beyond  applicable  grace  periods,  if any,  specified in such Related
         Documents; or

                  (xvii) a notice of termination is delivered under the Alliance
         Agreement  or the Alliance  Agreement  shall  terminate  for any reason
         whatsoever; or

                  (xviii) the Company or any Person shall  disavow or attempt to
         terminate any Sharing Letter or any Sharing Letter shall cease to be in
         full  force and  effect in whole or in part for any  reason  whatsoever
         unless the Company shall have otherwise complied with the provisions of
         6C(1)(viii); or



<PAGE>


                                                                   

                  (xix) any Person  shall  disavow or attempt to  terminate  the
         Intercreditor  Agreement or the Intercreditor  Agreement shall cease to
         be in  full  force  and  effect  in  whole  or in part  for any  reason
         whatsoever; or

                  (xx) Pillsbury  shall in any material  respect fail to perform
         or otherwise  breach or default  under any  provision of the  Pillsbury
         Note applicable to Pillsbury; or

                  (xxi) any amount of principal or interest is paid, credited or
         otherwise  satisfied  (whether by payment,  offset or any other method,
         and whether by voluntary or mandatory  prepayment)  in violation of the
         Pillsbury Subordinated Note or this Agreement other than the payment of
         a Permitted Payment (as defined in the Pillsbury Subordinated Note); or

                  (xxii)  Pillsbury,  the Company or any other Person  denies or
         contests,  including  the  bringing  of any  action  or  proceeding  to
         contest,  the effectiveness or validity of the Subordination  Letter or
         of the  subordination  or  non-recourse  provisions  of  the  Pillsbury
         Subordinated  Note, or any of such  provisions  is declared  invalid or
         unenforceable; or

                  (xxiii) the Company  shall fail to maintain the Bank  Facility
         having a remaining  term of at least one year at any time during  which
         the  ratio of  Funded  Debt to  Consolidated  Tangible  Gross  Worth is
         greater than 40 percent;

then:

                  (a) if such event is an Event of Default  specified  in clause
         (i) or (ii) of this  paragraph  7A, the holder of any Note  (other than
         the Company or any  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate)  may at its  option,  by
         notice in writing  to the  Company,  declare  such Note to be, and such
         Note shall thereupon be and become,  immediately due and payable at par
         together   with  interest   accrued   thereon  and  together  with  the
         Yield-Maintenance  Amount,  if any, with respect to each Note,  without
         presentment,  demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
         are hereby waived by the Company,

                  (b) if such event is an Event of Default  specified  in clause
         (vii),  (viii),  (ix) or (x) of this  paragraph  7A with respect to the
         Company,  all of the Notes at the time outstanding shall  automatically
         become  immediately  due and  payable  at par  together  with  interest
         accrued thereon, without presentment,  demand, protest or notice of any
         kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, and



<PAGE>


                                                                     

                  (c) if such event is any other Event of Default,  the Required
         Holder(s)  may at its or their  option,  by  notice in  writing  to the
         Company,  declare  all of the Notes to be,  and all of the Notes  shall
         thereupon  be and become,  immediately  due and payable  together  with
         interest  accrued  thereon  and  together  with  the  Yield-Maintenance
         Amount, if any, with respect to each Note, without presentment, demand,
         protest or other notice of any kind,  all of which are hereby waived by
         the Company.

         7B.  RESCISSION  OF  ACCELERATION.  At any time after any or all of the
Notes shall have been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph
7A, the holder or holders of at least 76% of the aggregate  principal  amount of
the Notes  from time to time  outstanding  may,  by  notice  in  writing  to the
Company, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

                  (i) all overdue  interest on the Notes,  the  principal of and
         Yield-Maintenance  Amount,  if any,  payable  with respect to any Notes
         which have become due otherwise than by reason of such declaration, and
         interest  on  such   overdue   interest  and  overdue   principal   and
         Yield-Maintenance  Amount at the rate specified in the Notes shall have
         been paid,

                  (ii) any  amounts  which  have  become due solely by reason of
         such declaration shall not have been paid,

                  (iii)  all  Events  of  Default  and   Defaults,   other  than
         non-payment  of amounts  which have become due solely by reason of such
         declaration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to paragraph 11C,
         and

                  (iv) no  judgment  or decree  shall have been  entered for the
         payment of any amounts due pursuant to the Notes or this Agreement.

No such rescission or annulment  shall extend to or affect any subsequent  Event
of Default or Default or impair any right arising therefrom.

         7C. NOTICE OF  ACCELERATION  OR RESCISSION.  Whenever any Note shall be
declared  immediately  due and  payable  pursuant  to  paragraph  7A or any such
declaration  shall be  rescinded  and  annulled  pursuant to  paragraph  7B, the
Company shall  forthwith  give written notice thereof to the holder of each Note
at the time outstanding.

         7D. OTHER REMEDIES.  If any Event of Default or Default shall occur and
be  continuing,  the holder of any Note may  proceed to protect  and enforce its
rights under this  Agreement  and such Note by  exercising  such remedies as are
available to such holder in respect thereof under applicable law, either by suit
in equity or


<PAGE>


                                                                    

by action at law, or both,  whether for specific  performance of any covenant or
other  agreement  contained  in this  Agreement or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted in this Agreement.  No remedy conferred in this Agreement upon the
holder of any Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and
every such remedy  shall be  cumulative  and shall be in addition to every other
remedy conferred  herein or now or hereafter  existing at law or in equity or by
statute or otherwise.

         8. REPRESENTATIONS,  COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES.  The Company represents,
covenants and warrants:

         8A.  ORGANIZATION;   AUTHORITY;   ENFORCEABILITY.   The  Company  is  a
corporation  duly  organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the
State of New York,  each  Subsidiary  is duly  organized  and  existing  in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, and the
Company has and each  Subsidiary  has the corporate  power to own its respective
property and to carry on its respective business as now being conducted,  and in
the case of the Company,  to enter into and perform all of its obligations under
this  Agreement  and the  Notes  and to issue  and sell the  Notes.  Each of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a
foreign  corporation  in each  state  where the  failure  to be so  licensed  or
qualified  would have a material  adverse  effect on the financial  condition or
operations  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole and has all
corporate  power,   material   licenses,   franchises  and  other   governmental
authorizations  and approvals  necessary to carry on its present business,  with
respect to which the failure to so possess would have a material  adverse effect
on the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Schedule 8A contains complete and correct
lists of (i) each  jurisdiction in which the Company is licensed or qualified to
do business as a foreign  corporation and (ii) the Subsidiaries,  showing, as to
each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of the organization,
each  jurisdiction  in which it is  licensed  or  qualified  to do business as a
foreign  corporation,  and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital
stock or similar  equity  interests  outstanding  owned by the  Company and each
other  Subsidiary.  This  Agreement  is, and the Notes when issued and delivered
hereunder  will be, legal,  valid,  binding and  enforceable  obligations of the
Company.

         8B. FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  The Company has furnished to each Purchaser
with the following  financial  statements,  identified by a principal  financial
officer of the Company:  (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as at March 31 in each of the years 1995 to 1996, inclusive,  and a
consolidated  statement of income and statement of cash flows of the Company and
its Subsidiaries for each such year all certified by Deloitte & Touche


<PAGE>


                                                                   

LLP or its  predecessor  firm;  and  (ii) a  consolidated  balance  sheet of the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries  as at  December 31 in each of the years 1995 and
1996 and a consolidated  statement of income and statement of cash flows for the
three-month  period  ended on each such  date,  prepared  by the  Company.  Such
financial statements (including any related schedules and/or notes) are true and
correct in all material respects (subject, as to interim statements,  to changes
resulting from audits and normal  year-end  adjustments),  have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles  consistently followed
throughout the periods involved and show all liabilities, direct and contingent,
of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be shown in accordance with such
principles.  The balance  sheets fairly present the condition of the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  as at the dates  thereof,  and the  statements  of income and
statements  of cash flows fairly  present the results of the  operations  of the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries  for the  periods  indicated.  There  has been no
material adverse change in the business,  condition or operations  (financial or
otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole since March 31,
1996.

         8C.  ACTIONS  PENDING.  There  is no  action,  suit,  investigation  or
proceeding  pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,  threatened against the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any properties or rights of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, by or before any court, arbitrator or administrative
or  governmental  body which might result in any material  adverse change in the
business,  condition  (financial  or otherwise) or operations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         8D.  OUTSTANDING DEBT.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has  outstanding any Debt except as specified on Schedule 8D and as permitted by
paragraph 6C(2).  There exists no default under the provisions of any instrument
evidencing such Debt or of any agreement relating thereto.

         8E. POLLUTION AND OTHER REGULATIONS. Except as disclosed on Schedule 8E
hereto,  each  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  is in  compliance  in all
material  respects  with all laws and  regulations  relating  to  pollution  and
environmental   control   (including  all   regulations  and  standards  of  the
Environmental  Protection  Administration),  equal  employment  opportunity  and
employee  safety in all  jurisdictions  in which it is presently doing business,
and the Company  will use its best  efforts to comply,  and to cause each of its
Subsidiaries  to  comply,  in all  material  respects  with  all  such  laws and
regulations which may be legally imposed in the future in jurisdictions in which
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  may then be doing business except where
the  necessity of  compliance  is being  contested in good faith by  appropriate
proceedings and adequate  reserves or other provisions  therefor shall have been
established on the books of the Company in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles or where the failure to comply would


<PAGE>


                                                                      

not  materially  adversely  affect the financial  condition or operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole. There is no enforcement order in
effect with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries issued by any federal or
state agency which regulates pollution,  environmental control, equal employment
opportunity and employee safety.

         8F. TAXES.  The Company has and each of its  Subsidiaries has filed all
federal,  state and other income tax returns which, to the best knowledge of the
officers of the Company,  are required to be filed,  and each has paid all taxes
as shown on such  returns  and on all  assessments  received by it to the extent
that such taxes have become due,  except  such taxes as are being  contested  in
good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  for which  adequate  reserves have been
established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         8G. CONFLICTING  AGREEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS.  Neither the Company nor
any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to any  contract or agreement or subject to
any  charter or other  corporate  restriction  which  materially  and  adversely
affects its business,  property or assets, or financial  condition.  Neither the
execution  nor  delivery  of this  Agreement  or the  Notes,  nor the  offering,
issuance and sale of the Notes, nor fulfillment of nor compliance with the terms
and provisions hereof and of the Notes will conflict with, or result in a breach
of the terms,  conditions or provisions  of, or constitute a default  under,  or
result in any  violation  of, or result in the  creation of any Lien upon any of
the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  pursuant to,
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  any award of
any arbitrator or any agreement  (including  any agreement  with  stockholders),
instrument,  order, judgment,  decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which
the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is subject.  Schedule  8G-1 is a true,
correct and complete list of all agreements (the "MATERIAL AGREEMENTS") that (i)
evidence Debt, (ii) contain financial covenants or financial restrictions on the
Company or any  Subsidiary  (iii) are between  Pillsbury  and the Company or any
Subsidiary,  (iv) are being  assigned  to the Company  under the Asset  Purchase
Agreement  or (v) are  material  in the  operation  of the  Alliance  Plants and
involve  single  sources of material  supplies or services  with  respect to the
operations of the Alliance Plants and the conduct of the business of the Company
with respect thereto. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
to,  or  otherwise  subject  to  any  provision  contained  in,  any  instrument
evidencing  indebtedness  of the  Company  or  such  Subsidiary,  any  agreement
relating  thereto or any other  contract or  agreement  (including  its charter)
which limits the amount of, or otherwise  imposes  restrictions on the incurring
of, Debt of the Company of the type to be  evidenced  by the Notes except as set
forth in the agreements listed in Schedule 8G-2 attached hereto.



<PAGE>


                                                                      

         8H.  OFFERING OF NOTE.  Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its
behalf has, directly or indirectly,  offered the Note or any similar security of
the Company for sale to, or solicited  any offers to buy the Note or any similar
security of the Company from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect
thereto with,  any Person other than  institutional  investors,  and neither the
Company  nor any agent  acting on its  behalf  has taken or will take any action
which  would  subject  the  issuance  or sale of the Note to the  provisions  of
section 5 of the  Securities  Act or to the provisions of any securities or Blue
Sky law of any  applicable  jurisdiction.  The  Company  hereby  represents  and
warrants to each Purchaser that, within the preceding twelve months,  neither it
nor any other  Person  acting on behalf of it has  offered or sold to any Person
any Notes, or any securities of the same or a similar class as the Notes, or any
other substantially similar securities of the Company.

         8I. USE OF PROCEEDS. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns (other
than the Moog Investment) or has any present  intention of acquiring any "margin
stock" as defined in Regulation G (12 CFR Part 207) of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (herein called "margin stock").  The proceeds of sale
of the Notes  will be used to acquire  the  assets  identified  on  Schedule  8I
hereto, to expand operations in connection with the Company's  existing business
and as contemplated by the Pillsbury  Agreements and for other general corporate
purposes.  None of such proceeds will be used,  directly or indirectly,  for the
purpose,  whether immediate,  incidental or ultimate,  of purchasing or carrying
any margin  stock or for the purpose of  maintaining,  reducing or retiring  any
Debt  which was  originally  incurred  to  purchase  or carry any stock  that is
currently a margin stock or for any other  purpose which might  constitute  this
transaction a "purpose  credit" within the meaning of such Regulation G. Neither
the Company nor any agent acting on behalf of the Company has taken or will take
any action which might cause this  Agreement or the Notes to violate  Regulation
G, Regulation T or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or
as the same may hereafter be in effect.

         8J. ERISA. No accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302
of ERISA and  section  412 of the Code),  whether  or not  waived,  exists  with
respect to any Plan (other  than a  Multiemployer  Plan).  No  liability  to the
Pension Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation has been or is expected by the Company to
be incurred  with respect to any Plan (other than a  Multiemployer  Plan) by the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  which is or would be materially  adverse to
the Company  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole.  [Except as  described  on
Schedule  8J,] neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has incurred or
presently expects to incur any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA with
respect to any Multiemployer Plan which is or would be materially adverse to the
Company


<PAGE>


                                                                          

and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole. No Plan providing  welfare  benefits to
retired  former  employees  of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  has been
established  or is  maintained  for which the present  value of future  benefits
payable, in excess of irrevocably designated funds for such purpose, is or would
be  materially  adverse  to the  financial  condition  of the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the  issuance  and sale of the Note will not  involve any  transaction  which is
subject to the  prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA or in connection with which
a  penalty  could be  imposed  under  Section  502(i) of ERISA or a tax could be
imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. The  representation by the Company
in the next  preceding  sentence  is made in  reliance  upon and  subject to the
accuracy of  representation  of each  Purchaser  in  paragraph  9B. The Borrower
represents  and  warrants  that,  (i) with  respect  to each  "plan"  identified
pursuant  to clause  (v) of  paragraph  9, the  Borrower  is neither a "party in
interest"  (as defined in Title I, Section  3(14) of ERISA) nor a  "disqualified
person" (as defined in Section  4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended),  and (ii) with respect to each "plan" identified pursuant to clause
(iv) of Paragraph 9, neither it nor any  "affiliate" (as defined in Section V(c)
of PTE 84-14) is described in the proviso to such clause (iv).

         8K. GOVERNMENTAL  CONSENT.  Neither the nature of the Company or of any
Subsidiary,  nor any of  their  respective  businesses  or  properties,  nor any
relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any
circumstance in connection with the offering,  issuance, sale or delivery of the
Note is such as to require any authorization,  consent,  approval,  exemption or
other  action  by or notice to or  filing  with any court or  administrative  or
governmental body (other than routine filings after the Date of Closing with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and/or  state  Blue Sky  authorities)  in
connection  with the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the offering,
issuance,  sale or delivery of the Note or fulfillment of or compliance with the
terms and provisions hereof or of the Note.

         8L.  DISCLOSURE.   Neither  this  Agreement  nor  any  other  document,
certificate or statement furnished to a Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company
in connection herewith contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state a material  fact  necessary in order to make the  statements  contained
herein and therein not  misleading.  There is no fact peculiar to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries which materially  adversely affects or in the future may
(so  far as the  Company  can  now  foresee)  materially  adversely  affect  the
business,  property or assets,  or financial  condition of the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  and which has not been set forth in this  Agreement or in the
other documents,  certificates and statements  furnished to a Purchaser by or on
behalf  of  the  Company  prior  to the  date  hereof  in  connection  with  the
transactions contemplated hereby.


<PAGE>


                                                                        
         8M. TITLE TO PROPERTIES.  The Company has and each of its  Subsidiaries
has good and  indefeasible  title to its respective real properties  (other than
properties  which it  leases)  and good  title  to all of its  other  respective
properties  and assets,  including the  properties  and assets  reflected in the
balance  sheet as at March 31,  1996  referred  to in  paragraph  8B (other than
properties and assets  disposed of in the ordinary  course of business and other
than  exceptions  to which,  taken as a whole,  are not material) and any assets
purchased  pursuant to the Asset Purchase  Agreement,  subject to no Lien of any
kind except Liens not  prohibited  by paragraph  6C(1) and Liens  required to be
discharged  at the time of  Closing  (all of which will be so  discharged).  All
leases  necessary  in any  material  respect for the  conduct of the  respective
businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, are valid and
subsisting and are in full force and effect.

         8N. PATENTS, LICENSES, FRANCHISE, ETC. The Company and its Subsidiaries
possess all franchises, certificates, licenses, permits and other authorizations
from  governmental  political  subdivisions  or regulatory  authorities  and all
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights,  licenses and other
rights,  free from burdensome  restrictions,  that are necessary in any material
respect  for the  ownership,  maintenance  and  operation  of  their  respective
properties and assets,  as presently  conducted and as proposed to be conducted,
and neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries is in violation of any such
authorizations  and rights in any material respect.  No event has occurred which
permits,  or after notice or lapse of time (except expiration of the stated term
thereof),  or both,  would permit,  the  revocation or  termination  of any such
franchise,  license,  authorization or other rights so as to affect adversely in
any material  respect the  business,  condition,  or  operations  (financial  or
otherwise)  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  taken  as  whole.  All such
franchises,  permits,  licenses and other  authority have been validly issued to
the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries,  as the  case  may  be,  by the  appropriate
governmental  authority  and  each  such  franchise,  permit,  license  or other
authority  is  valid  and  subsisting.  The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  are
operating their respective  businesses in material compliance with the terms and
conditions of such franchises,  permits, licenses and other authority and are in
material compliance with all applicable Federal, state and local law.

         8O.  INVESTMENT  COMPANY  ACT.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of its
Subsidiaries  is  an  "INVESTMENT  COMPANY",  or a  company  "CONTROLLED"  by an
"INVESTMENT COMPANY",  within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

         8P.      PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT.  Neither the Company nor
 any of its Subsidiaries is a "HOLDING COMPANY", or a "SUBSIDIARY COMPANY" of a
"HOLDING COMPANY" or an "AFFILIATE" of a "HOLDING COMPANY" or of a "SUBSIDIARY


<PAGE>


                                                                           

COMPANY" of a "HOLDING COMPANY", as such terms are defined in the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

         8Q. SOLVENCY.  As of the Date of Closing and after giving effect to the
transactions  contemplated hereunder (i) the amount of the "present fair salable
value" of the assets of the Company will, as of such date,  exceed the amount of
all  "liabilities of the Company,  contingent or otherwise," as of such date, as
such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state
laws governing  determinations of the solvency of debtors, (ii) the present fair
salable value of the assets of the Company  will, as of the Date of Closing,  be
greater  than the  amount  that will be  required  to pay the  liability  of the
Company  on its debts as such  debts  become  absolute  and  matured,  (iii) the
Company will not have, as of the Date of Closing,  an unreasonably  small amount
of capital with which to conduct its business, and (iv) the Company will be able
to pay its debts as they mature.  For purposes of this paragraph 8Q "DEBT" means
"liability or a claim",  and "CLAIM" means any (x) right to payment,  whether or
not  such a right is  reduced  to  judgment,  liquidated,  unliquidated,  fixed,
contingent,  matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured
or unsecured;  or (y) right to an equitable  remedy for breach of performance if
such breach  gives rise to a right to  payment,  whether or not such right to an
equitable  remedy  is  reduced  to  judgment,  fixed,  contingent,   matured  or
unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

         8R. ABSENCE OF FOREIGN OR ENEMY STATUS. Neither the Company, nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  is an "ENEMY" or an "ALLY OF THE ENEMY" within the meaning of
section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C.  App.  ss.ss. 1 et seq.),
as amended.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of,
and neither the issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company nor the use of the
proceeds  thereof as  contemplated  by this Agreement will violate,  the Trading
with the Enemy Act,  as  amended,  or any  executive  orders,  proclamations  or
regulations issued pursuant thereto, including, without limitation,  regulations
administered  by the Office of Foreign  Asset  Control of the  Department of the
Treasury (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V).

         8S. PILLSBURY  AGREEMENTS.  Each Purchaser has received a true, correct
and duly  authorized  and executed copy of each of the  Pillsbury  Agreement and
each other principal  document between Pillsbury and the Company,  including all
schedules  and exhibits  thereto and side letters,  if any,  affecting the terms
thereof or delivered in connection  therewith,  together with all amendments and
waivers thereto,  and no material provision of the foregoing agreements has been
amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified or waived without the prior written
consent of each Purchaser.



<PAGE>


                                                                      

         8T. BANK FACILITY. Each Purchaser has received a true, correct and duly
authorized  and executed  copy of each of the  documents  executed in connection
with the Bank  Facility,  including all schedules and exhibits  thereto and side
letters,  if any,  affecting  the  terms  thereof  or  delivered  in  connection
therewith,  together with all  amendments and waivers  thereto,  and no material
provision of any of the foregoing  agreements has been amended,  supplemented or
otherwise  modified  or  waived  without  the  prior  written  consent  of  each
Purchaser.  The Company has the corporate authority to request and receive,  and
each of the banks a party to the Bank  Facility  has an  obligation  to advance,
funds under the Bank Facility pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof.

         9. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER. Each Purchaser (other than CoBank,
ACB) represents and warrants, as to itself, that, with respect to each source of
funds to be used by it to purchase the Notes  (respectively,  the "SOURCE"),  at
least one of the following statements is accurate as of the Closing Date:

                  (i) the Source is an "insurance  company general  account," as
         such term is defined in section V(e) of  prohibited  Transaction  Class
         Exemption 95-60 (issued July 12, 1995) (PTE 95-60), and the purchase is
         exempt under the provisions of PTE 95-60.

                  (ii) The Source is a  "governmental  plan" as defined in Title
         I, Section 3(32) of ERISA;

                  (iii) The Source is either  (i) an  insurance  company  pooled
         separate  account,  and the  purchase  is  exempt  in  accordance  with
         Prohibited  Transaction  Exemption 90-1 (issued  January 29, 1990),  or
         (ii) a bank collective  investment fund, in which case the purchaser is
         exempt in accordance with PTE 91-38 (issued July 12, 1991);

                  (iv)  The  Source  is  an  "investment   fund"  managed  by  a
         "qualified  professional asset manager" or "QPAM" (as defined in Part V
         of PTE 84- 14, issued March 13, 1984) which QPAM has been identified in
         writing,  and the purchase is exempt under PTE 84-14  provided  that no
         other  party to the  transaction  described  in this  Agreement  and no
         "affiliate"  of such other  party (as  defined  in Section  V(c) of PTE
         84-14) has at this time,  and has not  exercised at any time during the
         immediately  preceding year, the authority to appoint or terminate said
         QPAM as  manager  of the  assets of any  "plan"  identified  in writing
         pursuant to this clause (iv) or to  negotiate  the terms of said QPAM's
         management agreement on behalf of any such identified "plans";



<PAGE>


                                                                      

                  (v) The Source is one or more "plans" or a separate account or
         trust fund  compromised  of one or more "plans," each of which has been
         identified in writing pursuant to this clause (v).

         As used in this  section,  "plan" or "plans" shall have the meaning set
forth in Title I, Section 3(3) of ERISA.

         10. DEFINITIONS.  For the purpose of this Agreement,  the terms defined
in the  introductory  sentence  shall  have the  respective  meanings  specified
therein,  and the following terms shall have the meanings specified with respect
thereto below:

         10A.     YIELD-MAINTENANCE TERMS.

         "CALLED  PRINCIPAL" shall mean, with respect to any Note, the principal
of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B or is declared to be
immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires.

         "DISCOUNTED  VALUE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of
any Note, the amount  obtained by discounting all Remaining  Scheduled  Payments
with respect to such Called Principal from their respective  scheduled due dates
to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with
accepted  financial  practice  and at a  discount  factor  (applied  on the same
periodic  basis as that on which  interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the
Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

         "REINVESTMENT  YIELD" shall mean, with respect to the Called  Principal
of any Note, .50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported,
as of 10:00 A.M.  (New York City time) on the  Business Day next  preceding  the
Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated
as "Page 678" on the Telerate Service (or such other display as may replace Page
678 on the Telerate Service) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having
a maturity  equal to the Remaining  Average Life of such Called  Principal as of
such Settlement Date, or if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or
the  yields  reported  as of such  time  shall  not be  ascertainable,  (ii) the
Treasury Constant Maturity Series yields reported,  for the latest day for which
such yields shall have been so reported as of the  Business  Day next  preceding
the Settlement  Date with respect to such Called  Principal,  in Federal Reserve
Statistical  Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable  successor  publication)  for
actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the
Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such
implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury
bill quotations to


<PAGE>


                                                                   

bond-equivalent  yields in accordance with accepted  financial  practice and (b)
interpolating linearly between yields reported for various maturities.

         "REMAINING  AVERAGE  LIFE"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to the  Called
Principal  of  any  Note,  the  number  of  years  (calculated  to  the  nearest
one-twelfth  year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called  Principal into (ii) the
sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment
of such  Called  Principal  (but not of  interest  thereon) by (b) the number of
years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the
Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date
of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

         "REMAINING  SCHEDULED  PAYMENTS" shall mean, with respect to the Called
Principal  of any Note,  all  payments of such  Called  Principal  and  interest
thereon that would be due on or after the  Settlement  Date with respect to such
Called  Principal if no payment of such Called  Principal were made prior to its
scheduled due date.

         "SETTLEMENT  DATE" shall mean, with respect to the Called  Principal of
any Note, the date on which such Called  Principal is to be prepaid  pursuant to
paragraph  4B or is  declared  to be  immediately  due and  payable  pursuant to
paragraph 7A, as the context requires.

         "TELERATE"  shall  mean  Telerate  Access  Services  or  if  no  longer
available such other comparable  service as the Required Holders may select as a
substitute therefor.

         "YIELD-MAINTENANCE  AMOUNT"  shall mean,  with respect to any Note,  an
amount  equal to the  excess,  if any,  of the  Discounted  Value of the  Called
Principal  of such  Note  over the sum of (i) such  Called  Principal  plus (ii)
interest  accrued thereon as of (including  interest due on) the Settlement Date
with respect to such Called Principal.  The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no
event be less than zero.

         10B.     OTHER TERMS.

         "ACQUISITION"   means  any  transaction,   or  any  series  of  related
transactions,  by which the Company and/or any of its  Subsidiaries  directly or
indirectly (a) acquires any ongoing business or all or substantially  all of the
assets of any Person or division  thereof,  whether through  purchase of assets,
merger or  otherwise,  (b)  acquires (in one  transaction  or as the most recent
transaction  in a series of  transactions)  control  of at least a  majority  in
ordinary  voting power of the securities of a Person which have ordinary  voting
power for the election of


<PAGE>


                                                                  

directors or (c) otherwise acquires control of a more than 5% ownership interest
in any such Person.

         "AFFILIATE" means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, (a) any
other  Person  that at such time  directly  or  indirectly  through  one or more
intermediaries  Controls,  or is Controlled  by, or is under Control with,  such
first Person,  and (b) any Person  beneficially  owning or holding,  directly or
indirectly,  10% or more of any  class of  voting  or  equity  interests  of the
Company  or any  Subsidiary  or any  corporation  of which the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries beneficially own or hold, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly,
10% or  more  of any  class  of  voting  or  equity  interests.  As used in this
definition, "CONTROL" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the  direction  of the  management  and policies of a Person,
whether  through the ownership of voting  securities,  by contract or otherwise.
Unless the context otherwise  clearly requires,  any reference to an "AFFILIATE"
is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.

         "ALLIANCE  AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Alliance Agreement by and
among the Company,  Pillsbury and Grand  Metropolitan,  Inc.,  dated December 8,
1994, as it has been amended by that certain First  Amendment dated February 10,
1995 and as it may be further  amended,  modified or  supplemented  from time to
time in accordance with its terms and the terms hereof.

         "ALLIANCE PLANTS" shall have the meaning specified in the Alliance
Agreement.

         "ASSET PURCHASE  AGREEMENT" shall mean the Asset Purchase  Agreement by
and between the Company and  Pillsbury  dated  December 8, 1994,  as it has been
amended by that certain First Amendment dated February 10, 1995 and as it may be
further  amended,  modified or supplemented in accordance with its terms and the
terms hereof.

         "BANKRUPTCY LAW" shall have the meaning specified in clause (viii) of
paragraph 7A.

         "BANK FACILITY"  shall mean the Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement
dated as of September 24, 1997 among the  Company,The  Chase  Manhattan Bank, as
Agent and banks a party  thereto,  having an  aggregate  commitment  of at least
$75,000,000,  and any substitution  therefor, as it may be amended,  modified or
supplemented  from  time to time in  accordance  with its  terms  and the  terms
hereof.



<PAGE>


                                                                  

         "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  a Sunday or a
day on which  commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be
closed.

         "CAPITALIZED  LEASE OBLIGATION" shall mean any rental obligation which,
under generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  is or will be required to be
capitalized on the books of the Company or any  Subsidiary,  taken at the amount
thereof  accounted for as indebtedness  (net of interest  expense) in accordance
with such principles.

         "CHANGE OF CONTROL  EVENT" shall mean (i) the  beneficial  ownership or
acquisition by any Person or group of affiliated Persons (other than directly or
indirectly  through the Wolcott or Kayser families) in any transaction or series
of related  transactions of shares of the Company  representing more than 50% of
the  total  number of votes  which the  Company's  shareholders  (assuming  full
participation  of all of the  shareholders)  shall  be  entitled  to cast in the
election  of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company;  and (ii) the Wolcott and
Kayser families shall cease to own shares,  directly or indirectly,  or have the
power to vote shares held by trusts of which all of the  trustees of such trusts
are family members and such trustees have independent  discretion  regarding the
exercise of the associated  voting rights,  having in the aggregate at least 25%
of the total number of votes which the  Company's  shareholders  (assuming  full
participation  of all of the  shareholders)  shall  be  entitled  to cast in the
election of the Board of Directors of the Company.

         "CLOSING" shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 2 hereof.

         "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "COLLATERAL" shall mean, collectively, the "COLLATERAL" described in
the Pledge Agreement.

         "COLLATERAL  AGENT"  shall mean The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  serving as
Collateral Agent under the Pledge Agreement.

         "CONSOLIDATED" shall mean the consolidated financial information of the
Company  and  each  of its  Subsidiaries  under  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

         "CONSOLIDATED EBITDA" shall mean, for any fiscal period of the Company,
an amount equal to (A) the sum for such fiscal period of Consolidated Net Income
(Loss) and, to the extent subtracted in determining such Consolidated Net Income
(Loss), provisions for (i) taxes based on income, (ii) Consolidated Interest


<PAGE>


                                                                             

Expense,  and (iii) depreciation and amortization expense minus (B) any items of
gain (or plus  any  items of loss)  which  were  included  in  determining  such
Consolidated  Net Income (Loss) and were (x) not realized in the ordinary course
of business  (whether or not  classified  as  "ordinary"  by generally  accepted
accounting  principles),  or (y)  the  result  of any  sale  of  assets,  or (z)
resulting from minority  investments plus (C) $15,078,000 for the  non-recurring
write-off that occurred in the second Fiscal Quarter of 1996 plus (D) $4,279,000
capital  gain  on  the  sale  of  the  Peabody   property  located  in  Peabody,
Massachusetts that occurred in second fiscal quarter of 1996.

         "CONSOLIDATED   INTEREST   EXPENSE"  for  any  period  shall  mean  the
Consolidated  interest  expense  (whether cash or non-cash  interest  expense or
deferred  or  accrued  interest  expense  and  including,   without  limitation,
capitalized  interest expense and the interest portion of all Capitalized  Lease
Obligations during such period) determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

         "CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS" shall have the meaning specified in
paragraph 6B.

         "CONSOLIDATED  NET INCOME  (LOSS)" shall mean, for any fiscal period of
the  Company,  the  Consolidated  net  income (or loss) of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries for such period (taken as a single accounting period) determined in
conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting   principles,   but  excluding
therefrom (to the extent  otherwise  included  therein) (i) any gains or losses,
together with any related provision for taxes,  realized upon any sale of assets
other than in the ordinary  course of  business,  (ii) any income or loss of any
Person accrued prior to the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company
or is merged into or  consolidated  with the Company or any Subsidiary or all or
substantially  all of such  Person's  assets are  acquired by the Company or any
Subsidiary,  and (iii) the income of the Company or any Subsidiary to the extent
that the  declaration  or payment of dividends or similar  distributions  by the
Company  or such  Subsidiary  of that  income  is not at the time  permitted  by
operation of the terms of its charter or any  agreement,  instrument,  judgment,
decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation.

         "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE GROSS WORTH" shall mean Total Funded Debt plus
Total Stockholders' Equity, minus Intangibles.

         "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH" shall mean Total Stockholders' Equity
minus Intangibles.



<PAGE>


                                                                     

         "CURRENT  ASSETS"  shall mean the  Consolidated  current  assets  after
eliminating  all  inter-company  items,  in accordance  with generally  accepted
accounting principles.

         "CURRENT  DEBT" shall mean any  obligation  for borrowed money (and any
notes payable and drafts accepted  representing  extensions of credit whether or
not  representing  obligations for borrowed money) payable on demand or within a
period  of one year from the date of the  creation  thereof;  provided  that any
obligation,  other  than the Bank  Facility,  shall be  treated  as Funded  Debt
regardless  of its term, if such  obligation is renewable  pursuant to the terms
thereof or of a revolving  credit or similar  agreement  effective for more than
one  year  after  the date of the  creation  of such  obligation  or of any such
agreement.  Any obligation  secured by a Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds
of production from, property of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to
be Funded or Current Debt, as the case may be, of the Company or such Subsidiary
even  though  such  obligation  shall  not be  assumed  by the  Company  or such
Subsidiary.

         "CURRENT  LIABILITIES"  shall mean the Consolidated  total  liabilities
(after eliminating all inter-company  items) which may be properly classified as
current   liabilities,   in  accordance  with  generally   accepted   accounting
principles.

         "DATE OF CLOSING" shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 2 
hereof.

         "DEBT" shall mean Funded Debt and/or Current Debt, as the case may be.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall mean any foreign, federal, state, local
or regional  government  that  exercises any form of  jurisdiction  or authority
under any Environmental Requirement.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS" shall mean all judgments,  decrees
or  orders  arising  from  or in  any  way  associated  with  any  Environmental
Requirements, whether or not entered upon consent, or written agreements with an
Environmental  Authority or other entity  arising from or in any way  associated
with any Environmental  Requirement,  whether or not incorporated in a judgment,
degree or order.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES" shall mean any liabilities, whether accrued
or  contingent,  arising  from  or  relating  in any  way  to any  Environmental
Requirements.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL  NOTICES" shall mean any written  communication from any
Environmental  Authority  stating  possible  or  alleged  noncompliance  with or
possible or alleged liability under any Environmental Requirement, including


<PAGE>


                                                                        

without  limitation  any  complaints,  citations,  demands or requests  from any
Environmental  Authority  for  correction  of  any  purported  violation  of any
Environmental   Requirements  or  any  investigation  concerning  any  purported
violation of any Environmental  Requirements.  Environmental  Notices also shall
mean  (i)  any  written   communication  from  any  private  Person  threatening
litigation or administrative proceedings against or involving any of the Company
or a Subsidiary relating to alleged violation of any Environmental  Requirements
and (ii) any  complaint,  petition  or similar  documents  filed by any  private
Person commencing litigation or administrative  proceedings against or involving
the Company or a Subsidiary  relating to alleged  violation of any Environmental
Requirements.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL  PROCEEDINGS"  shall mean any judicial or administrative
proceedings  arising  from  or in any  way  associated  with  any  Environmental
Requirement.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL  RELEASES"  shall mean releases (as defined in CERCLA or
under any  applicable  state or local  environmental  law or  regulation) by the
Company  or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  of  Hazardous  Materials.  Environmental
Releases  does not include  releases  for which no  remediation  or reporting is
required by  applicable  Environmental  Requirements  and which do not present a
danger to health, safety or the environment.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL  REQUIREMENTS" shall mean any applicable local, state or
federal  law,  rule,  regulation,  permit,  order,  decision,  determination  or
requirement  relating in any way to Hazardous Materials or to health,  safety or
the environment.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.

         "EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall mean any of the events  specified in paragraph
7A,  provided that there has been satisfied any  requirement in connection  with
such event for the giving of notice,  or the lapse of time,  or the happening of
any  further  condition,  event or act,  and  "DEFAULT"  shall  mean any of such
events, whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         "FISCAL QUARTER" shall mean the approximately  13-week period ending on
a Saturday near the close of each calendar  quarter of each year as  established
on an annual basis by the Company.



<PAGE>


                                                                         

         "FUNDED DEBT" shall mean, on any date of determination,  any obligation
payable  more than one year from the date of the creation  thereof,  which under
generally  accepted  accounting  principles  is shown on the balance  sheet as a
liability  (excluding  reserves for deferred  income taxes and other reserves to
the extent that such reserves do not constitute an obligation); plus the highest
amount of the aggregate  principal amount of Current Debt  outstanding  during a
period  selected  by the Company of 45  consecutive  days,  within the  12-month
period immediately preceding such date.

         "HANCOCK" shall mean John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company and its
successors and assigns.

         "HAZARDOUS  MATERIALS" shall mean (a) hazardous waste as defined in the
Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act of 1976, or in any applicable  federal,
state or local law or  regulation,  (b)  hazardous  substances,  as  defined  in
CERCLA,  or in any applicable  federal,  state or local law or  regulation,  (c)
gasoline, or any other petroleum product or by-product or constituent, (d) toxic
substances,  as defined in the Toxic  Substances  Control Act of 1976, or in any
applicable  federal,  state or local  law or  regulation  and (e)  insecticides,
fungicides, or rodenticides,  as defined in the Federal Insecticide,  Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act of 1975, or in any applicable federal, state or local law or
regulation,  as each such Act, statute or regulation may be amended from time to
time.

         "INSTITUTIONAL  HOLDER" shall mean (i) any original holder of the Notes
under this  Agreement so long as such purchaser  shall hold any Notes,  (ii) any
other holder of Notes which is an insurance  company,  pension fund,  investment
company, bank, or investment banking firm or any affiliate of a Person described
in clause (i) or (ii).

         "INTANGIBLES" shall mean goodwill,  patents,  trademarks,  trade names,
organization  expense and other like intangibles,  determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

         "INTERCREDITOR  AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Amended and Restated
Intercreditor  Agreement  dated as of  February  23,  1995 among the  Collateral
Agent,  The Prudential  Insurance  Company of America,  each bank a party to the
Bank Facility and each Purchaser,  substantially in the form of Exhibit F, as it
may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with its terms.

         "INTEREST  COVERAGE RATIO" shall mean, for any period, the ratio of (x)
the sum of  Consolidated  EBITDA for such period to (y) the sum of  Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period.


<PAGE>


                                                                     

         "LIEN" shall mean any mortgage,  pledge,  priority,  security interest,
encumbrance,  deposit arrangement, lien (statutory or otherwise), any common law
right of setoff or banker's  lien  (whether by law,  contract or  otherwise)  in
connection  with ordinary course of business  deposit  arrangements or charge of
any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing,  any conditional
sale or other title retention  agreement,  any lease in the nature thereof,  and
the filing of or agreement  to give any  financing  statement  under the Uniform
Commercial Code of any jurisdiction).

         "MATERIAL AGREEMENTS" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 8G.

         "MOOG INVESTMENT" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6C(3).

         "1995 NOTE  AGREEMENT"  shall mean that  certain Note  Agreement  dated
February 23, 1995,  as amended,  among the Company,  Hancock and The  Prudential
Insurance Company of America.

         "NOTE" or "NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1.

         "OFFICER'S  CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate signed in the name of
the Company by a Principal Officer.

         "PERMITTED ACQUISITION" means an Acquisition that:

                  (i)   the Person to be acquired has formally approved, or its
         governing body has recommended, such Acquisition; and

                  (ii)  the  fixed  assets  to be  acquired  do  not  exceed  an
         aggregate fair market value of $10,000,000; and

                  (iii) the total  consideration  (including  without limitation
         any Debt  assumed  in  connection  with such  Acquisition)  paid by the
         Company  for  all  Permitted   Acquisitions,   including  the  proposed
         Acquisition, during any calendar year shall not exceed $25,000,000.

         "PERSON" shall mean and include an individual,  a partnership,  a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government
or any  department or agency  thereof.  For purposes of paragraph  5B,  "PERSON"
shall not include any employee or representative of any government or any agency
or department thereof.

         "PILLSBURY" shall mean The Pillsbury Company, a Delaware corporation.



<PAGE>


                                                                       

         "PILLSBURY  ACKNOWLEDGMENT" shall mean that certain  Acknowledgment and
Agreement  dated as of the date  hereof  executed  by  Pillsbury  and the Senior
Entity, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

         "PILLSBURY AGREEMENTS" shall mean each of the following,  as any may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms
and the terms hereof:

                  (i)      Asset Purchase Agreement; and

                  (ii)     Alliance Agreement;

                  (iii)    each of the Pillsbury Security Documents; and

                  (iv)     Pillsbury Acknowledgment.

         "PILLSBURY  CONSENT"  shall mean that  certain  written  consent to the
Pledge  Agreement   executed  by  each  of  Pillsbury  and  the  Senior  Entity,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Pledge Agreement.

         "PILLSBURY  SS.  1111(B)  ELECTION"  shall mean that certain  Agreement
dated February 23, 1995 relating to 11 U.S.C. ss. 1111(b) executed by Pillsbury,
as it may have been or may be  amended,  modified or  supplemented  from time to
time in accordance with its terms.

         "PILLSBURY SECURITY DOCUMENTS" shall mean each of the following, as any
may be amended,  modified or  supplemented  from time to time in accordance with
its terms and the terms hereof:

                  (i)      the Pillsbury Subordinated Note;

                  (ii) Security  Agreement dated as of February 10, 1995 between
         the Company and Pillsbury;

                  (iii)  Mortgage,  Security  Agreement  and  Fixture  Financing
         Statement  dated as of  February  10,  1995  executed by the Company in
         favor of Pillsbury; and

                  (iv)     the Subordination Letter.

         "PILLSBURY  SUBORDINATED  NOTE"  shall  mean that  certain  8%  Secured
Nonrecourse  Subordinated  Promissory  Note dated February 1, 1995 issued by the
Company in favor of Pillsbury and any other nonrecourse subordinated note issued


<PAGE>


                                                                        

by the Company in favor of Pillsbury,  as contemplated by Section 2.02(a) of the
Asset Purchase Agreement,  as any may be amended,  modified or supplemented from
time to time in accordance with its terms and the terms hereof.

         "PLAN" shall mean any "EMPLOYEE  PENSION BENEFIT PLAN" (as such term is
defined in Section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been  established  or maintained,
or to which  contributions are or have been made, by the Company or by any trade
or business,  whether or not incorporated,  which, together with the Company, is
under common control, as described in section 414(b) or (c) of the Code.

         "PLEDGE  AGREEMENT"  shall  mean  that  certain  Pledge,  Security  and
Assignment  Agreement  dated  February  23,  1995 by the Company in favor of the
Collateral Agent, as it has been amended by Amendment No. 1 to Pledge,  Security
and Assignment  Agreement dated March 31, 1997 and by Amendment No. 2 to Pledge,
Security and Assignment  Agreement  dated as of the date hereof and as it may be
further amended,  modified or supplemented  from time to time in accordance with
its terms.

         "PRINCIPAL  OFFICER" shall mean the chairman,  chief executive officer,
chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer of the Company.

         "PRIORITY DEBT" shall mean all unsecured  Funded Debt of any Subsidiary
and all Secured  Debt of the Company  and its  Subsidiaries  other than (A) Debt
secured by Liens permitted  under clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph  6C(1),
(B) Debt listed on Schedule 8D under the heading  "PRIORITY DEBT" without giving
effect to any amendment, modification,  supplement, increase, extension, renewal
or  refunding  after  the  Date  of  Closing  except  for any  extension  of the
expiration  date of a letter of  credit  issued  in  connection  with any of the
industrial  revenue  bonds  identified  as  Priority  Debt so  long as any  such
extension  is not beyond the stated  maturity  date of such bonds and except for
any substitution of such letter of credit, (C) Debt described on Schedule 6C(6),
(D) Debt  secured  solely by  bankers'  lien and  subject  to the  Intercreditor
Agreement  or a Sharing  Letter and (E) any Debt  secured by a Lien granted to a
bank or financial institution as permitted by paragraph 6C(1)(viii)(F).

         "PROPERTIES"  shall mean all real property  owned,  leased or otherwise
used or occupied by the Company or any Subsidiary, wherever located.

         "PURCHASERS" shall mean, collectively, each of the Persons specified in
the Purchaser Schedules hereto.

         "RELATED  DOCUMENTS" shall mean each of this Agreement,  each Note, the
Pledge Agreement, the Pillsbury Consent, the Pillsbury ss. 1111(b) Election, any


<PAGE>


                                                                    

Pillsbury Subordinated Note, any Sharing Letter, the Intercreditor Agreement and
the Subordination Letter and any other certificate, instrument or other document
delivered in connection with any of the foregoing.

         "REQUIRED  HOLDER(S)"  shall  mean the  holder or  holders  of at least
66-2/3%  of the  aggregate  principal  amount  of the  Notes  from  time to time
outstanding.

         "RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS" shall have the meaning specified in clause (x)
of paragraph 6C(3).

         "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "SECURED DEBT" shall mean any Debt or obligation of any Person which is
secured by, or otherwise  benefiting  from, a Lien on any property,  tangible or
intangible, of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether or not the Company or such
Subsidiary  has assumed or become  liable for the payment of such Debt.  Secured
Debt shall not include the Bank Facility or this Agreement to the extent secured
by the Pledge Agreement.

         "SENIOR ENTITY" shall mean Grand Metropolitan Public Limited Company, a
United Kingdom corporation and parent of its indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiary,
Pillsbury.

         "SENIOR  FUNDED  DEBT" shall mean all Funded Debt of the Company or its
Subsidiaries other than Subordinated Debt.

         "SHARING  LETTER"  shall mean that certain  Letter  Agreement,  if any,
entered  into from time to time by and among each holder of a Note and a bank as
contemplated by paragraph  6C(1)(viii),  substantially  in the form of Exhibit D
hereto,  as any may be amended,  modified and supplemented  from time to time in
accordance with its terms.

         "SIGNIFICANT  HOLDER"  shall mean (i) each  Purchaser,  so long as such
Purchaser  shall hold (or be committed  under this  Agreement  to purchase)  any
Note, or (ii) any other holder of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes from time to time outstanding.

         "SOLD PLANTS" shall have the meaning set forth in the Alliance
Agreement.

         "SUBORDINATED DEBT" shall mean the Pillsbury  Subordinated Note and any
other  Funded Debt of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  which (i) is validly and
expressly subordinated in right of payment and in liquidation to the obligations
in respect of the Notes, in form and substance  satisfactory to each Significant
Holder;


<PAGE>


                                                                            

and (ii) has, when issued,  a weighted average life to maturity greater than the
remaining weighted average life to maturity of the Notes.

         "SUBORDINATION  LETTER"  shall mean that  certain  Agreement  Regarding
Subordination  dated September 26, 1997 among  Pillsbury and the Purchasers,  in
the form of a letter from Pillsbury.

         "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean (i) any corporation organized under the laws of
any state of the United  States of America,  Canada,  or any province of Canada,
which  conducts the major portion of its business in and makes the major portion
of its sales to Persons located in the United States of America and Canada,  and
all of the stock of every class of which,  except directors'  qualifying shares,
shall, at the time as of which any  determination is being made, be owned by the
Company  either  directly  or  through   Subsidiaries   and  (ii)  Seneca  Foods
International Ltd.

         "THIRD PARTY" shall mean all lessees,  sublessees,  licensees and other
users of the Properties.

         "TOTAL  FUNDED DEBT" shall mean, as of any date of  determination,  the
sum of (i) the aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of Senior Funded Debt of
the Company or its Subsidiaries  plus (ii) the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount of Subordinated Debt of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

         "TOTAL   STOCKHOLDERS'   EQUITY"   shall  mean,   as  of  any  date  of
determination,   stockholders'   equity  as  it  would  appear  on  the  audited
consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and its  Subsidiaries as of such date
prepared in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles minus an
amount,  in no event less than zero,  equal to the product of (i) the sum of (A)
the net book value of the Sold Plants minus (B) the  undepreciated  value of any
capital  improvements  to the Sold  Plants  by the  Company,  as  calculated  in
accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,   minus  (C)  the
aggregate  principal amount of the Pillsbury  Subordinated Note then outstanding
times (ii) the  difference  of 1 minus the marginal tax rate then  applicable to
the Company.

         "TRANSFEREE" shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any
part of any Note purchased by a Purchaser under this Agreement.

         "UNSECURED"  with  respect to Debt means that such Debt is not  Secured
Debt.

         10C.     ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATION.  All references in this
Agreement to "GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES" shall be deemed to refer
to generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States at
the time


<PAGE>


                                                                             

of application thereof, subject to the next sentence. Unless otherwise specified
herein,   all   accounting   terms  used  herein  shall  be   interpreted,   all
determinations  with respect to accounting  matters hereunder shall be made, and
all financial  statements and certificates  and reports as to financial  matters
required  to be  furnished  hereunder  shall be  prepared,  in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a basis consistent with the
audited  consolidated  financial  statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries
delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph 5A(1).

         11.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         11A.  NOTE  PAYMENTS.  The Company  agrees that, so long as a Purchaser
shall hold any Note, it will make payments of principal of,  interest on and any
Yield-Maintenance  Amount  payable with respect to such Note,  which comply with
the terms of this Agreement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds for
credit on the date due to such  Purchaser's  account or accounts as specified in
the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto, or such other account or accounts in the
United States as such  Purchaser may designate in writing,  notwithstanding  any
contrary  provision  herein or in any Note with respect to the place of payment.
Each Purchaser  agrees that,  before  disposing of any Note, such Purchaser will
make a notation  thereon (or on a schedule  attached  thereto) of all  principal
payments  previously made thereon and of the date to which interest  thereon has
been paid.  The Company  agrees to afford the benefits of this  paragraph 11A to
any Transferee  which shall have made the same agreement as the Purchasers  have
made in this paragraph 11A.

         11B.  EXPENSES.  The Company  agrees,  whether or not the  transactions
contemplated  hereby shall be  consummated,  to pay, and save each Purchaser and
any Transferee  harmless against liability for the payment of, all out-of-pocket
expenses  arising  in  connection  with such  transactions,  including,  without
limitation:

                  (i)  all  taxes  (together  in each  case  with  interest  and
         penalties,  if any), other than local, state or federal income taxes or
         franchise taxes of a holder of a Note,  including  without  limitation,
         all stamp, intangibles, recording and other taxes, which may be payable
         with respect to the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement or any
         Related Document or the execution, delivery or acquisition of any Note;

                  (ii) all document  production and duplication  charges and the
         fees and expenses of any special  counsel  engaged by the Purchasers or
         any  Transferee in connection  with this  Agreement,  the  transactions
         contemplated hereby and any subsequent proposed modification of, or


<PAGE>


                                                                             

         proposed consent under, this Agreement or any Related Document, whether
         or not such proposed modification shall be effected or proposed consent
         granted, and

                  (iii) the  costs  and  expenses,  including  attorneys'  fees,
         incurred  by a  Purchaser  or any  Transferee  in  connection  with the
         restructuring,  refinancing or "WORKOUT" of this Agreement, any Note or
         any other Related Document or the transactions  contemplated  hereby or
         thereby in  enforcing  (or  determining  whether or how to enforce) any
         rights under this Agreement,  any Note or any other Related Document or
         in  responding  to any  subpoena  or  other  legal  process  issued  in
         connection  with this  Agreement or any other  Related  Document or the
         transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or by reason of a Purchaser
         or  any  Transferees  having  acquired  any  Note,   including  without
         limitation costs and expenses  incurred in any bankruptcy case in which
         the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the debtor or the bankrupt;

provided,  however that in connection with  enforcement of any provision  hereof
and in connection  with any  amendment,  waiver or consent  hereto,  the Company
shall  not be  obligated  pursuant  to this  paragraph  11B to pay the  fees and
expenses of more than one counsel (which may include,  without  limitation,  any
disbursements  of such counsel to pay the fees and expenses of one local counsel
in each relevant  jurisdiction  where  necessary or advisable in connection with
any modification  (whether or not consummated)  which contemplates the taking by
the holders of the Notes of a security  interest in any assets of the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries  or in connection  with the  enforcement  of any rights
under this Agreement or the Notes) for the holder of the Notes taken as a group;
and provided,  further, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this
paragraph 11B to pay any expenses  incurred in  connection  with the transfer of
any Note. The  obligations of the Company under this paragraph 11B shall survive
the transfer of any Note or portion  thereof or interest  therein by a Purchaser
or any Transferee and the payment of any Note.

         11C.     AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.

         11C(1)  REQUIREMENTS.  This Agreement or any other Related Document may
be amended,  and the Company may take any action herein  prohibited,  or omit to
perform any act herein  required  to be  performed  by it, if the Company  shall
obtain the written consent to such amendment,  action or omission to act, of the
Required  Holder(s)  except to the extent  otherwise  specified  in any  Related
Document and that,  without the written  consent of the holder or holders of all
Notes at the time outstanding, no amendment to this Agreement shall change:



<PAGE>


                                                                        
                  (i)      the maturity of any Note,

                  (ii)  the  principal  of,  or the rate or time of  payment  of
         interest on, or any  Yield-Maintenance  Amount  payable with respect to
         any Note,

                  (iii)    the time, amount or allocation of any prepayments, or

                  (iv) the  proportion  of the  principal  amount  of the  Notes
         required with respect to any consent, amendment, waiver or declaration.

Solely for the  purpose of  determining  whether  the  holders of the  requisite
percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding  approved
or  consented  to any  amendment,  waiver  or  consent  to be given  under  this
Agreement  or the Notes,  or have  directed  the  taking of any action  provided
herein  or in the  Notes to be taken  upon the  direction  of the  holders  of a
specified   percentage  of  the  aggregate   principal   amount  of  Notes  then
outstanding,  Notes  directly or  indirectly  owned by the Company or any of its
Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding. Each holder of any Note at the
time or thereafter  outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this
paragraph 11C,  whether or not such Note shall have been marked to indicate such
consent,  but any Notes issued  thereafter may bear a notation  referring to any
such consent.  As used herein and in the Notes,  the term "THIS  AGREEMENT"  and
references  thereto  shall  mean this  Agreement  as it may from time to time be
amended or supplemented.

         11C(2) CONSENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF TRANSFER.  Any consent made pursuant
to this paragraph 11C by a holder of Notes that has transferred or has agreed to
transfer  its Notes to the  Company,  any  Subsidiary  or any  Affiliate  of the
Company and has  provided  or has agreed to provide  such  written  consent as a
condition to such transfer shall be void and of no force or effect except solely
as to such  holder,  and any  amendments  effected  or waivers  granted or to be
effected  or  granted  that would not have been or would not be so  effected  or
granted but for such  consent  (and the  consents of all other  holders of Notes
that were acquired under the same or similar conditions) shall be void and of no
force or effect except solely as to such holder.

         11C(3)  PAYMENT.  The Company  will not directly or  indirectly  pay or
cause to be paid any remuneration,  whether by way of supplemental or additional
interest,  fee or otherwise,  or grant any  security,  to any holder of Notes as
consideration  for or as an  inducement  to the  entering  into by any holder of
Notes of any  waiver or  amendment  of any of the terms  and  provisions  hereof
unless such  remuneration  is  concurrently  paid,  or security is  concurrently
granted,  on the same terms,  ratably to each  holder of Notes then  outstanding
even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.


<PAGE>


                                                                       

         11C(4) COURSE OF DEALING.  No course of dealing between the Company and
the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under
any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note.

         11D. FORM,  REGISTRATION,  TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES;  LOST NOTES.
The Note are issuable as registered notes without coupons in denominations of at
least $100,000,  except as may be necessary to reflect any principal  amount not
evenly  divisible by $100,000.  The Company shall keep at its principal office a
register in which the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of
transfers of Notes.  Upon surrender for  registration of transfer of any Note at
the principal office of the Company, the Company shall, at its expense,  execute
and  deliver  one or more  new  Notes  of  like  tenor  and of a like  aggregate
principal amount,  registered in the name of such transferee or transferees.  At
the option of the holder of any Note, such Note may be exchanged for other Notes
of like tenor and of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal
amount,  upon  surrender of the Note to be exchanged at the principal  office of
the Company.  Whenever any Notes are so  surrendered  for exchange,  the Company
shall, at its expense, execute and deliver the Notes which the holder making the
exchange is entitled to receive.  Every Note  surrendered  for  registration  of
transfer or exchange  shall be duly  endorsed,  or be  accompanied  by a written
instrument  of  transfer  duly  executed,  by the  holder  of such  Note or such
holder's  attorney  duly  authorized  in  writing.  Any Note or Notes  issued in
exchange for any Note or upon transfer  thereof shall carry the rights to unpaid
interest  and  interest to accrue which were carried by the Note so exchanged or
transferred,  so that  neither  gain nor loss of interest  shall result from any
such transfer or exchange. Upon receipt of written notice from the holder of any
Note of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of such Note and, in the case
of any such loss, theft or destruction,  upon receipt of such holder's unsecured
indemnity  agreement (or, if such holder is not an  Institutional  Holder having
capital  and  surplus  in  excess  of  $50,000,000,  a surety  bond) in form and
substance reasonably  satisfactory to the Company and its counsel or in the case
of any such mutilation upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Company
will make and deliver a new Note,  of like tenor,  in lieu of the lost,  stolen,
destroyed or mutilated Note.

         11E.  PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS;  PARTICIPATIONS.  Prior to due presentment
for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name any
Note is  registered  as the owner and  holder  of such Note for the  purpose  of
receiving payment of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount,
if any, and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note shall be
overdue,  and the  Company  shall not be  affected  by  notice to the  contrary.
Subject to the preceding sentence,  the holder of any Note may from time to time
grant


<PAGE>


                                                                         

participations  in all or any part of such Note to any  Person on such terms and
conditions  as may be  determined  by  such  holder  in its  sole  and  absolute
discretion.

         11F. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES;  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. All
representations  and  warranties  contained  herein or made in  writing by or on
behalf of the Company in  connection  herewith  shall  survive the execution and
delivery of this  Agreement  and the Notes,  the  transfer by a Purchaser of any
Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may
be relied upon by any Transferee,  regardless of any  investigation  made at any
time by or on behalf of a Purchaser or any Transferee.  Subject to the preceding
sentence,  this  Agreement  and  the  Notes  embody  the  entire  agreement  and
understanding  between each  Purchaser  and the Company and  supersede all prior
agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

         11G. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All covenants and other agreements in this
Agreement  contained by or on behalf of either of the parties  hereto shall bind
and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties
hereto (including,  without limitation,  any Transferee) whether so expressed or
not.

         11H.  DISCLOSURE TO OTHER PERSONS.  The Company  acknowledges  that the
holder of any Note may  deliver  copies of any  financial  statements  and other
documents delivered to such holder, and disclose any other information disclosed
to such holder,  by or on behalf of the Company or any  Subsidiary in connection
with or pursuant to this Agreement to:

                  (i)      such holder's directors, officers, employees, agents,
         Affiliates and professional consultants,

                  (ii)     any other holder of any Note,

                  (iii) any Person to which such holder offers to sell such Note
         or any part thereof,

                  (iv) any Person to which such holder sells or offers to sell a
         participation in all or any part of such Note,

                  (v)  any  federal  or  state   regulatory   authority   having
         jurisdiction over such holder,

                  (vi)     the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
         or any similar organization or



<PAGE>


                                                                          

                  (vii) any other  Person to which such  delivery or  disclosure
         may be necessary or appropriate  (a) in compliance  with any law, rule,
         regulation or order  applicable to such holder,  (b) in response to any
         subpoena or other legal process or informal  investigative  demand, (c)
         in  connection  with any  litigation to which such holder is a party or
         (d) in order to protect such holder's investment in such Note.

         11I. NOTICES. All written  communications  provided for hereunder shall
be sent by first  class mail or  nationwide  overnight  delivery  service  (with
charges prepaid) and:

                  (i) if to a  Purchaser,  addressed  to such  Purchaser  at the
         address  specified for such  communications  in the Purchaser  Schedule
         attached hereto,  or at such other address as such Purchaser shall have
         specified to the Company in writing,

                  (ii) if to any other  holder of any  Note,  addressed  to such
         other holder at such address as such other holder shall have  specified
         to the Company in writing or, if any such other  holder  shall not have
         so specified an address to the  Company,  then  addressed to such other
         holder  in care of the last  holder of such Note  which  shall  have so
         specified an address to the Company, and

                  (iii)   if  to  the   Company,   addressed   to  it  at   1162
         Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford, New York 14534, Attention: Treasurer,
         or at such other  address as the Company  shall have  specified  to the
         holder  of each  Note in  writing;  provided,  however,  that  any such
         communication  to the Company may also,  at the option of the holder of
         any Note,  be  delivered  by  facsimile  transmission  addressed to the
         Company, Attention: Treasurer, at (716) 385-4249.

         11J. SATISFACTION REQUIREMENT.  If any agreement,  certificate or other
writing,  or any action taken or to be taken,  is by the terms of this Agreement
required to be satisfactory to each Purchaser or to the Required Holder(s),  the
determination  of such  satisfaction  shall  be made  by such  Purchaser  or the
Required  Holder(s),  as the case may be,  in the  sole and  exclusive  judgment
(exercised in good faith) of the Person or Persons making such determination.

         11K.     GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE
RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  THE COMPANY HEREBY SUBMITS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF


<PAGE>


                                                                        

NEW YORK LOCATED IN NEW YORK  COUNTY,  NEW YORK AND THE UNITED  STATES  DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT
TO THE SOLE AND  ABSOLUTE  ELECTION  OF THE  REQUIRED  HOLDERS AND TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED  BY  APPLICABLE  LAW,  ALL  ACTIONS OR  PROCEEDINGS  RELATING  TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER RELATED  DOCUMENT SHALL BE LITIGATED IN SUCH
COURTS, AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE BASED ON IMPROPER
VENUE OR FORUM NON  CONVENIENS  TO THE  CONDUCT  OF ANY  PROCEEDING  IN ANY SUCH
COURTS.

         11L. SEVERABILITY.  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited
or  unenforceable  in  any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to  such  jurisdiction,  be
ineffective  to the  extent  of such  prohibition  or  unenforceability  without
invalidating  the  remaining  provisions  hereof,  and any such  prohibition  or
unenforceability   in  any   jurisdiction   shall  not   invalidate   or  render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         11M.     DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.  The descriptive headings of the several
paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not
constitute a part of this Agreement.

         11N. PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS  DAYS.  Anything in this Agreement or
the Notes to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  any  payment  of  principal  of or
Yield-Maintenance  Amount or  interest  on any Note that is due on a date  other
than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding  Business Day and shall
include the additional days elapsed in the  computation of the interest  payable
on such next succeeding Business Day.

         11O.     COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original,but all of which together shall
constitute one instrument.


                    [Signature pages commence on next page.]



<PAGE>


                                                                   

         If you are in  agreement  with the  foregoing,  please sign the form of
acceptance on the enclosed counterpart of this letter and return the same to the
Company,  whereupon this letter shall become a binding agreement between each of
the Purchasers and the Company.
                                           Very truly yours,

                                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION



                                            By /s/Philip G. Paras
                                                Title: Vice President, Finance



                               [Signatures continued on next page.]


<PAGE>


The foregoing Agreement is
hereby accepted as of the date
first above written.

SIGNATURE 1A (CAYMAN), LTD.
BY:      JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE
            COMPANY, PORTFOLIO ADVISOR


By /s/Scott A. McFetridge
   Title: Investment Officer


MELLON BANK, N.A., AS
TRUSTEE FOR THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
     TRUST


By /s/Carole Bruno
   Title: Authorized Signatory


MELLON BANK, N.A., AS
TRUSTEE FOR NYNEX MASTER PENSION TRUST


By /s/ Carole Bruno
   Title: Authorized Signatory


COBANK, ACB


By /s/Ralph T. Lawrence
   Title: Vice President


                                    EXHIBIT A

                                 [FORM OF NOTE]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN VIOLATION
OF SUCH ACT.

                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION

                     _____% SENIOR NOTE DUE __________, 200_


No. R-1                                                        __________, 19__
$----------


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned,  SENECA FOODS CORPORATION (herein
called the  "COMPANY"),  a corporation  organized and existing under the laws of
the     State    of    New     York,     hereby     promises     to    pay    to
___________________________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of
____________________________  on ___________,  2004, with interest  (computed on
the basis of a 360-day  year--30-day month) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at
the rate of ____% per annum from the date hereof,  payable quarterly on the ____
day of _______, ________, ________ and _______ in each year, commencing with the
_______ next succeeding the date hereof,  until the principal  hereof shall have
become due and payable,  and (b) on any overdue  payment  (including any overdue
prepayment)  of  principal,  any  overdue  payment of  interest  and any overdue
payment  of any  Yield-Maintenance  Amount  (as  defined  in the Note  Agreement
referred to below),  payable  quarterly as  aforesaid  (or, at the option of the
registered  holder  hereof,  on  demand),  at a rate per annum from time to time
equal to the  greater  of (i)  _____%  or (ii)  2.0%  over the rate of  interest
publicly  announced by Morgan  Guaranty  Trust  Company of New York from time to
time in New York City as its Prime Rate.

         Payments of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance  Amount
payable  with  respect to this Note are to be made at the main  office of Morgan
Guaranty  Trust  Company of New York in New York City or at such other  place as
the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing,  in lawful money of
the United States of America.

         This  Note is one of a  series  of  Senior  Notes  (herein  called  the
"NOTES") issued pursuant to a Note Agreement,  dated as of ______________,  1997
(herein


<PAGE>


                                                                     A-2

called the  "AGREEMENT"),  among the Company and the  Purchasers a party thereto
and is entitled to the benefits thereof.

         This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement,  upon
surrender  of  this  Note  for  registration  of  transfer,  duly  endorsed,  or
accompanied by a written  instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered
holder hereof or such holder's  attorney duly authorized in writing,  a new Note
for a like  principal  amount will be issued to, and  registered in the name of,
the  transferee.  Prior to due presentment  for  registration  of transfer,  the
Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is  registered as the owner
hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes,  and the
Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

         The Company  agrees to make  required  prepayments  of principal on the
dates and in the amounts  specified in the Agreement.  This Note is also subject
to  optional  prepayment,  in whole or from  time to time in part,  on the terms
specified in the Agreement.

         In case an Event of Default,  as defined in the Agreement,  shall occur
and be  continuing,  the  principal  of this Note may be declared  or  otherwise
become  due and  payable  in the  manner  and with the  effect  provided  in the
Agreement.

         THIS  NOTE IS  INTENDED  TO BE  PERFORMED  IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND
SHALL BE CONSTRUED  AND ENFORCED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.  AS
PROVIDED  IN  PARAGRAPH  11K  OF  THE  AGREEMENT,  THE  COMPANY  SUBMITS  TO THE
JURISDICTION  OF THE SUPREME  COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN NEW YORK
COUNTY,  NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT
OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS NOTE.

                                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION



                                            By________________________________
                                               Title:


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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION                                                                    PAGE

1.       The Notes...........................................................1
         A.       Authorization of Issue of Notes............................1
         B.       Security for the Notes.....................................1

2.       Purchase and Sale of Notes..........................................1

3.       Conditions Precedent................................................2
         A.       Related Documents..........................................2
         B.       Opinion of Purchaser's Special Counsel.....................2
         C.       Opinions of Counsel........................................2
         D.       Representations and Warranties; No Default.................3
         E.       Purchase Permitted By Applicable Laws......................3
         F.       Proceedings................................................3
         G.       Certificates of Good Standing/Qualification to Do Business.3
         H.       No Material Adverse Change.................................4
         I.       Private Placement Numbers..................................4
         J.       Perfection of Liens........................................4
         K.       Pillsbury Agreements.......................................4
         L.       Material Agreements........................................4
         M.       Expenses...................................................5
         N.       Other Documents............................................5

4.       Prepayments.........................................................5
         A.       Required Prepayments.......................................5
         B.       Optional Prepayment With Yield-Maintenance Amount..........5
         C.       Notice of Optional Prepayment..............................5
         D.       Partial Payments Pro Rata..................................6
         E.       Retirement of Notes........................................6
         F.       Change in Control..........................................6
         G.       Pillsbury Payments.........................................7

5.       Affirmative Covenants...............................................7
         A.       Reporting Requirements.....................................7
         B.       Information Required by Rule 144A.........................11
         C.       Inspection of Property....................................11
         D.       Covenant to Secure Notes Equally..........................11
         E.       Guaranteed Obligations....................................12
         F.       Corporate Existence, Etc..................................12

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         G.       Payment of Taxes and Claims...............................12
         H.       Compliance With Laws, Etc.................................13
         I.       No Integration............................................13
         J.       Maintenance of Insurance..................................13
         L.       Other Covenants...........................................14

6.       Negative Covenants.................................................14
         A.       Current Ratio and Interest Coverage.......................14
         B.       Dividend Limitation.......................................15
         C.       Lien, Debt and Other Restrictions.........................16
         D.       Issuance of Stock by Subsidiaries.........................23
         E.       No Prepayment, Modification or Consent....................23
         F.       Permitted Acquisitions....................................23

7.       Events of Default..................................................23
         A.       Acceleration..............................................23
         B.       Rescission of Acceleration................................28
         C.       Notice of Acceleration or Rescission......................28
         D.       Other Remedies............................................28

8.       Representations, Covenants and Warranties..........................29
         A.       Organization; Authority; Enforceability...................29
         B.       Financial Statements......................................29
         C.       Actions Pending...........................................30
         D.       Outstanding Debt..........................................30
         E.       Pollution and Other Regulations...........................30
         F.       Taxes.....................................................31
         G.       Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters..................31
         H.       Offering of Note..........................................32
         I.       Use of Proceeds...........................................32
         J.       ERISA.....................................................32
         K.       Governmental Consent......................................33
         L.       Disclosure................................................33
         M.       Title to Properties.......................................34
         N.       Patents, Licenses, Franchise, Etc.........................34
         O.       Investment Company Act....................................34
         P.       Public Utility Holding Company Act........................34
         Q.       Solvency..................................................35
         R.       Absence of Foreign or Enemy Status........................35
         S.       Pillsbury Agreements......................................35
         T.       Bank Facility.............................................36


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9.       Representations of the Purchaser...................................36

10.      Definitions........................................................37
         A.       Yield-Maintenance Terms...................................37
         B.       Other Terms...............................................38
         C.       Accounting Terms and Determination........................49

11.      Miscellaneous......................................................50
         A.       Note Payments.............................................50
         B.       Expenses..................................................50
         C.       Amendments and Waivers....................................51
         D.       Form, Registration, Transfer and Exchange of Notes; Lost
                  Notes.....................................................53
         E.       Persons Deemed Owners; Participations.....................53
         F.       Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire
                  Agreement.................................................54
         G.       Successors and Assigns....................................54
         H.       Disclosure to Other Persons...............................54
         I.       Notices...................................................55
         J.       Satisfaction Requirement..................................55
         K.       GOVERNING LAW.............................................55
         L.       Severability..............................................56
         M.       Descriptive Headings......................................56
         N.       Payments Due on Non-Business Days.........................56
         O.       Counterparts..............................................56

PURCHASER SCHEDULES

Exhibit A               -    Form of Note
Exhibit B               -    Form of Opinion of Company's Counsel
Exhibit C               -    Form of Acknowledgment and Agreement
                               of Pillsbury and Grand Met
Exhibit D               -    Form of Sharing Letter
Exhibit E               -    Form of Letter Agreement
Exhibit F               -    Form of Amended and Restated Intercreditor
                               Agreement

Schedule 3G             -    Good Standing Certificates
Schedule 3L             -    Specified Material Agreements
Schedule 6C(3)          -    Outstanding Guarantees
Schedule 6C(5)          -    Excluded Assets
Schedule 6C(6)          -    Sale/Lease-Back
Schedule 8A             -    Corporate Organization

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Schedule 8D             -    Outstanding Funded Debt
Schedule 8E             -    Environmental Disclosure
Schedule 8G-1           -    Material Agreements
Schedule 8G-2           -    Agreements Restricting Debt
Schedule 8I             -    Use of Proceeds

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                              EXECUTION COUNTERPART










                            SENECA FOODS CORPORATION



                     $15,000,000 9.17% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2004



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                                 NOTE AGREEMENT
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                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1997



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