Letter from David B. Mann Ocean Spray Cranberry Grower October 12, 1999 Dear Fellow Cranberry Growers: In my past 29 years of service as your Ocean Spray Director, this is the most difficult, yet most important, letter I have written to you regarding Ocean Spray's future. Plans which were being developed by your Massachusetts Ocean Spray Advisory Board for an open forum for a candidates discussion regarding the upcoming director nomination process have once again been suspended by your Ocean Spray board's letter of 10/6/99 starting the nomination process much earlier than normal (on 10/15/99 in the middle of harvest). This decision equates to the turmoil created by the board's decision of last year to standardize the nomination process in every growing area regardless of the area's feelings. The present board is not serving our best interests with its continued mismanagement. The sad condition Ocean Spray finds itself in today has been confirmed by the board's hired consultants to be a direct result of mismanagement. The board has not dealt with this issue yet, i.e. the present "retired" CEO is still in charge. The board claims they are now managing Ocean Spray directly. If so, why did they disclaim any approval of the grower payment schedule for the 1999 crop of $20/bbl? This number had to evolve from their budget. It appears that the major decision at the last board meeting was to reduce the size of the board. This would be an excellent time for our present board members to fish or cut bait - resign now! The board's intent seems to be one of self-serving perpetuation of their present status. Even at this late stage of Ocean Spray's decline the board has not determined the direction for Ocean Spray - sell the company, put Ocean Spray stock on the public market (I.P.O.), sell part of Ocean Spray, partner with another company, or continue as it is with a new C.E.O.? The board has been studying these alternatives for years and still no decision. This must be resolved before the selection criteria for a new C.E.O. can be developed, however they report that they are far into the C.E.O. selection process, but still haven't determined the direction they want the company to take. We must determine the company's direction now and start down that road. The sale of our Ocean Spray marketing/manufacturing segments to a strong, global, consumer goods company appears to be the best answer. Excessive plantings hence crushing surpluses and low prices are the results of management's faulty vision of the future. We don't have the funds needed to develop markets needed to sell our production profitably. Even if the funds became available through an I.P.O., etc., we don't have the proven management to accomplish our goals. Directors have the responsibility to manage Ocean Spray and they have failed us. We must make changes here. Massachusetts has three director candidates who have the courage and the will to make needed policy changes. Our present director , Don Le Clair, along with the two new candidates of Tom Gelsthrope and Ron Drollett, should be nominated to replace the misguided leadership provided by the present director candidates of Gary Garrison and Jeff Kapel who are running for re-election. Sincerely, David Mann
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