COVID-19 UPDATE

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No impact on processing tomatoes to date

To date, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has not had an impact on the processing tomato supply. Seeds were already purchased and transplanting has begun.

Morning Star has a Pandemic Virus Outbreak Plan already in place

The Morning Star Packing Company is dedicated to the protection of its employees, facilities, and resources and is committed to ensuring that our company can continue all aspects of its critical business processes during a Pandemic Virus Outbreak. To ensure supply chain continuity and prompt recovery in the event of an interruption, we have documented a contingency plan to address these concerns.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to your Morning Star sales colleague.

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GLOBAL CROP EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN 2020

World Processing Tomato Council estimates a 5.1% increase to 39.32 million mT

In many countries, it is difficult to have a precise prediction of the 2020 crop; however, we can look at several indicators to determine increases or decreases in production. GLOBAL TRADE OF TOMATO PRODUCTS

Greece is expecting a 10-12% increase to 400,000 mT, with growers willing to plant more after an encouraging 2019 season.

Italy is on track to produce on par with 2019, expecting 5 million mT to be delivered (2.6 in the north and 2.4 in the south).

Portugal has just recently confirmed their contracts and is expected to produce 1.4 million mT.

Spain faces some concerns about water availability in Andalusia and subsequently reduced surface planting by 7% in the region; however, yields in 2019 were promising and, combined with a 4% increase in the Extremadura region, the country expects to produce 3.1 million mT.

Turkish farmers have indicated a desire to increase planting in 2020 but Turkey is facing high inventories from 2019 and will likely produce around 2.2 million mT.

China is facing an increase in the demand for production, with 100,000 acres being added to the current growing areas, which should increase the raw material volume by 0.7 million mT.

California has contracts totaling 10.89 million mT for 2020, an increase of 4.3% compared to reported contracts at the end of the 2019 season. With 2019 production finishing at 10.14 million mT, California should see an increase in their final volume. The California crop totals 235,000 acres (95,100 hectares) with an average yield of 51.1 short tons/acre (114.5 t/ha).

Southern Hemisphere countries continue to harvest into March, with Argentina, Australia, and Chile expecting to deliver a total of 1.5 million mT of product.

Global tomato paste exports, for all countries, saw a notable increase in the 2018/2019 marketing year. While growth since 2011/2012 has been nominal, the 1.6% jump last year represents total exports jumping from 3.33 to 3.46 million mT.

Ukraine has been the primary driver for this increase in global exports, growing at 19% annually for the last seven years, bringing their total production up from 125,000 mT to 420,000 mT. Portugal, as well, had an 8% annual growth to transform from 363,000 mT to 628,000 mT. Finally, Spain rose 14%, taking their production from 878,000 mT to 2.22 million mT between 2011 and 2019.

GLOBAL PROCESSING FORECAST

2020 CROP FORECASTED AT 12,000,000 TONS

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California reservoirs are at above-average capacity despite the lack of rainfall

California processing tomato production is forecasted at 12 million tons. This forecast is down 100 thousand tons from last
year’s January initial forecast of 12.1 million tons following a 2019 harvested crop of slightly under 11.2 million tons. The 2020 production is to come from an estimated 235 thousand acres, generating an average yield of 51.1 tons per acre.

Planting began in the second half of February in the early harvesting areas of the southern part of the growing region. Obtaining the seed required for the early transplanting has been difficult as a result of regulations requiring testing for viroids before tomato seed is shipped to California.

Temperatures have been running above normal, and the lack of rainfall has resurfaced the dreaded “d-word” (drought) into the California climate discussion. While the lack of rain facilitates an early planting window, the California Department of Water Resources reported that as of February 24, statewide water content in the Sierras was just 41% of the April 1 average with current Northern Sierra precipitation at about 51% of season average. California is fortunate in that there was good wet weather and a significant snowpack in late 2019. The state’s reservoir levels are hovering above average.

On February 25, the Bureau of Reclamation announced an initial 2020 water supply allocation
for Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors of 15% of their contract supply and the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors and San Joaquin Settlement Contractors 100% of supply. While 15% of contract supply for CVP contractors is not much, it at least gives growers an amount of water that they can expect. State Water Project users are also at 15% allocation. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) plans were filed by January 31 and are posted for review.

Drought years often bring high leafhopper counts in the hills along the valley, and they pose a threat of transmitting the curly top virus to the tomato plants as the hills dry down and the leafhoppers migrate into the valley. Leafhoppers carrying the virus transmit it to the tomato plant as they feed. While the State Curly Top Virus Control Program is aggressive, its control measures are still limited by environmental restrictions and property owners’ rights. Treatment has already begun. The last bad year for the curly top virus in California was 2013.

Labor in California agriculture continues to be a hot topic. With the beginning of 2020, minimum wage has increased by $1.00 per hour, and the hours worked prior to overtime being paid has been reduced by a half hour. Not only are costs increasing, but availability of farm labor continues to be a problem.

Despite the challenges facing the processing industry in California, the potential for a good year still remains with resilient growers and processors linked with a drought year that normally produces above average yield

Morning Star News and Updates

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Morning Star makes expansions to increase capacity for peeled, diced, specialty and fire-roasted products

Morning Star continuously strives to innovate and expand our operations to ensure we meet customer demand in the most efficient and cost- effective means possible.

For the 2020 season our Santa Nella facility, Liberty Packing Company, is undergoing key expansions:

The already massive tomato fire- roaster will be doubling its capacity from 25 tons/hour to 50 tons/hour.

A new dedicated processing line is being built in what was once the peach processing building. The new dedicated line will include a steam peeler, which expands total peeling capacity from 290 tons/hour to 410 tons/hour with, consequently, additional dicing capacity. In addition, this new line will be used to expand Liberty’s specialty, organic and R&D production capabilities.

With the introduction of this new dedicated processing line, Liberty will be able to produce additional formulated industrial products, which includes fire- roasted formulated products.

GLOBAL ESTIMATES ON PAR WITH 2016

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global production of processed tomatoes Estimates have begun rolling in for production levels in 2017. The AMITOM (Mediterranean Association of Tomato Processors) should come in as the leading group at 16.5 million metric tons (mT). Italy leads that production with an estimated 5 million mT for the season and Spain remains the second-largest producer at 3.2 million mT.

While some countries have pulled back production slightly (California estimates a 2017 production of 10.52 million mT, down from 2016's 11.52 million mT), global numbers are level with production in 2016.

Another trend occurring on the international stage is a decrease in price for raw tomato prices worldwide. According to The World Processing Tomato Council, global averages (in USD/mT) have gone from a high of $98 in 2014 to an estimated $74.8 in 2017.

Colleague Highlight: Jake Sherman

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How did you first learn about Morning Star?

I was searching for economist roles on various job boards after completing graduate school and stumbled upon The Morning Star Company. I was intrigued by the position summary, so I researched the company’s website and submitted an application after thinking it would be an interesting place to work.

Before working at Morning Star, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I was a math and economics teacher at a rehabilitation high school for students with behavior and/or mental health issues.

What are 3 words to describe Morning Star?

Tomatoes, Self-Management, and Authenticity.

What drew you to Morning Star originally?

The position. Working as an economist has been a career goal of mine and being able to do that with the world’s largest tomato processor seemed like an excellent opportunity. Every day I learn something new and I am constantly intellectually challenged.

What do you find most challenging at Morning Star?

When I first began, the biggest challenge was understanding self-management because it was a new concept to me. Various colleagues helped me understand what it means and how to apply it to build a career with the company.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years?

Continue learning as much as possible about the tomato processing industry and building my personal skillset to be more effective in my role.

Tell me about your family.

My parents live in Livermore, CA and I have an older sister, Sarah, who is an Occupational Therapist in San Jose and a twin brother, Aron, who is the Aquatics Supervisor for the City of Rohnert Park. My brother recently got engaged to his fiancé, Kenzie, who is an English teacher at Windsor High School.

Tell me about your background.

I grew up in the East Bay Area and completed my bachelor's and master's degrees in economics at Long Beach State. I worked as a math and economics teacher at a high school during graduate school and as an economics lecturer at Saddleback College after completing my master's degree. I played water polo in junior college and love watching baseball.

I also have a passion for baseball analytics and this interest growing up drove me to study economics.

People would be surprised if they knew ________________ about you.

I have an identical twin brother. Yes, we do look a lot alike.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like working out, swimming, reading, and hanging out with friends or family.

What’s your favorite book(s)?

My favorite book is Moneyball by Michael Lewis and I’m a big Star Wars fan.

What’s on your bucket list?

I want to complete a triathlon.

Processing Tomato Seed Sowing at California Masterplant - The Morning Star Company

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Everyone is familiar with what a tomato plant looks like, but have you ever wondered what it takes to grow that plant and the red ripe tomatoes we harvest from it for your ketchup, pasta sauces, salsas, and so much more? California Masterplant and The Morning Star Company do. Check out this sneak peek inside our greenhouse operation as our colleagues take you on the journey from seed to seedling.

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Morning Star Relocates Model T

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Colleagues work together to move a classic

Before the 2019 season began, Morning Star Colleagues undertook a project to resettle a 1922 Ford Model T from the Sacramento Valley Museum, where it had been on loan, to our Northern California equipment facility. Big thanks to Trevor Breckenridge, Joe Dillard, Christian Orozco, and Brian Hagle for their efforts to bring this classic home!

MORNING STAR RELOCATES MODEL T

Morning Star - Value Added-Product Tour

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Colleague Eric Fisher is here to introduce you to Morning Star’s innovative and comprehensive line of value-added tomato products.

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WILLIAMS - THE STORY BEHIND THE FACTORY

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In 1995, our Morning Star factory in Williams, CA was up and running. What many people don’t know about are the battles undertaken behind the scenes in order to successfully get the largest processing factory in the world on its feet in time for the season. This particular factory was constructed in record time, with groundbreaking in February 1995 and processing starting on August 1, 1995. The original processing capacity was 350 tons/hour, designed to reach 500 tons/hour. Williams now holds the title of the highest capacity processing facility in the world at over 1300 tons/hour.

Now, in 2019, we still have several colleagues who were on the ground in 1995 as operations got started. Among those were Brian Hagle, Mark Beitler, Marc Haywood, Christie Ponciano, Sara Mendez, Beau Wad- dell, Troy Cano, Johnny Johnson (JJ), and John Coghlan.

Brian Hagle started working with Morning Star at Williams being a Control Room runner. Now, in 2019, he is a great asset for our Evaporation Business Unit. Recalling the building of Williams in ‘95, Brian said, “I remember extensive construction, informal team building, grueling long hours, determined colleagues, and daily - sometimes hourly - challenges. Chris Rufer [owner and founder] slept in the truck driver trailers in the shop and his wife brought him clothes and provided food for everyone in the Control Room. It was great working with colleagues through those challenges.”

Mark Beitler came to Morning Star from Denver, CO. “Years of doing experimental research in graduate school taught me how to look at technical issues from different angles. Striving to do the impossible is the ultimate goal at Morning Star.” When asked about his experience during the opening season at Williams, he said, “I remember the plant shutting down repeatedly and asking a fellow colleague if that was normal (as I hadn’t worked in a tomato plant before), and he laughed and said, ‘No.’”

WILLIAMS - THE STORY BEHIND THE FACTORY Marc Haywood started in Tomato Preparation (unloading tomatoes to send to the finishers) and is now involved with tomato grower business development. He began working as a seasonal colleague but applied for a full-time job at the Williams facility and arrived in time for construction. Marc recalls that, “Challenging would be an understatement” when asked to characterize construction.

Christie Ponciano became involved with Morning Star as an AP/AR colleague and continues her work in Administration and AR. Christie noted, “Everyone was mostly strangers to each other in the beginning, yet everyone got along so well. They all learned together. My biggest challenge was trying to learn everyone’s name!”

Sara Mendez began as a tomato sorter in ‘95 and now works in distribution. She recalls, “I remember meeting Chris [Rufer] on the flume and not knowing he was the owner.” This year, she will welcome her first grandchild.

Beau Waddell originally started in Shipping and Receiving activities in ‘95 but now is heavily involved in our extensive distribution operations. He fondly recalls, “The Williams team was like a family. I worked with a great group of guys like Gordon Gardner and David Clay. It was a huge push to get the plant up and running.”

Troy Cano worked as an aseptic mechanic in ‘95 but now deals with aseptic packaging as a whole. He originally had his own truck repair business but was on a ski trip with some Morning Star veterans and was approached about moving to Williams for the build. He explains, “I remember the disasters that took place that opening season. We had a fire well blow up, and several other big setbacks. Despite all the craziness, we made it! And now look where we are.”

Johnny Johnson (JJ) worked in Shipping and Receiving at the start but now focuses on steam generation and electric motors. Coming to Morning Star after responding to an advertisement in a newspaper, JJ remembers, “That first season was organized chaos, for sure.”

John Coghlan worked in construction supervision and startup support and continues those efforts as a construction coordination colleague. Having already worked in the tomato industry prior, he had invaluable experience for the difficulties of, as he explains, “time constraints on construction, challenges of the new factory startup, and de-bottlenecking processes during production.”

We are so lucky to have such a great group of dedicated and talented colleagues who make Williams such a special place.