Message:
12.20.67.114 writes:

Enough is enough. The time is now for us to take a keen interest in our own future. I am a new grower in the co-op and joined because if the desire for "stability" in returns.....what a joke!

I have six questions that the board needs to answer and answer now. (continued here)

1)What changed so drastically from Dec. To Feb. to justify the change in pool returns? For that matter, what changed since the April Wisconsin meeting to bring us into the $30s for returns?

2)The surplus is no surprise, management has been predicting it for years, yet there is no "plan". They are still busy blaming everyone else except themselves! The plan is now due in June. How can any plan coming from this administration have any credibility? This is the same group who can't estimate a pool price 3 months in advance and be within 30%!

3)How can THE cranberry company, the leader in the industry, let our shelves go without stock? God help us, we have a record surplus or fruit in our freezer and no product in the stores. Exactly when is our distribution problem going to be solved? Anyone willing to stake their job on it?

4)How much longer will the Board allow this lack of leadership? How much longer will we as growers allow this board to ignore this problem?

5)Did we really announce that 100 employees were going to be laid off 30 days in advance of the actual layoff? I am astounded if that was the situation. Basic Human Resources 101 on that one.

6)Why not hire outside directors? Bring on experts in the juice business. Obviously, our board members know how to grow cranberries, but they sure don't know how to sell them. Our board members need to challenge management to perform, and fire them if they don't, plain and simple

Its time to do something. If we were a NYSE company, our stock would be through the floor and we would have been taken over six months ago. CEOs who don't perform get fired. Board members who don't perform, don't get re-elected. Growers without a market for their fruit go broke. We need a plan and we need it now. No more excuses, time is up. Is there going to be an Ocean Spray 10 years from now? You decide!

Wisconsin grower

REPLIES:

• Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 05:51:05

205.230.14.59 writes:

I believe the plan is to bankrupt us and buy fruit overseas! Why else would they be taking the price down to $29 bb concentrate! While the directors are entertaining Eastern Europeans. WE are expendable to Ocean Spray. There can be no other explanation. And they set it up so there is not a damn thing we could do about it! They're not taking down just Ocean Spray, by driving a bidding war, they will take down the whole industry...that's what a "leader"does.

If this were a publicly traded company, more than a few Directors would be in jail. There are laws against board members profiting from privileged information.

We are not members, we are hostages. Did you do this to yourself recently?

• Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 07:47:35

Explain this "profiting from privileged information" (sp) you mentioned. I am intrigued by such a statement. While you are at it, why not mention names?

Does everybody think this is still a good thing?
Do not loose sight of the fact that anyone who might bail us out is reading this.


J.Q.

• Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 08:22:18

205.230.14.42 writes:

I'm talking about tailoring the new member new acre policy to fit the needs of board members, of voting not to redeem stock and then offering to buy it back at discount prices, I'm talking about being the only growers in the co-op capable of financial planning, I'm talking about the wheeling and dealing of bog and stock, of bringing in new acres in the presence of an over supply....while the rest of us are clueless!

If you think this forum is such a bad idea, why do you participate?

• Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 15:20:29

24.218.4.21 writes:

Interesting.
I participate to be the devils advocate. Clearly this is a fairly one sided forum, which is fine, but I think that folks probably don't understand this forum and it's implications.
If I don't post my doubts and fears here, then where else can I appeal to people using it?
I encourage you to consider this ALL as negative publicity for Ocean Spray. This particular forum is not appropriate! All I think we ought to do is get it off the ####ing internet!

J. Q.

Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 15:45:38

12.20.67.51 writes:

Whats the problem??? Its about time the ocean spray board realize we are serious. I am tired of the dog and pony shows Bullock puts on....WE ARE THE CRANBERRY COMPANY. Give me a break. Start acting like a fort. 500 company and set the pace. No more knee jerk reactions please. I demand leadership. anything less is unacceptable.

The fact we may be "airing" our dirty laundry on the internet is really no problem. Perhaps with hyperspace enough growers will demand our company be run like a company. Presently we are not!!

• Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 09:57:12

24.128.161.111 writes:

You think the shelves are empty now? wait until Pepsi-cola pulls out, who is going to distribute our 16oz bottles all over the country ocean spray doesn't have that kind of distribution

• Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 14:03:25

204.214.112.179 writes:

Its good to hear from a Wisconsin grower. I was beginning to think that some of the Mass. & Oregon growers were the only ones willing to speak out.

I feel the same way you do about management and the board (with a few exceptions). Why is OUR board willing to back management while they self-destruct a great company? How many mistakes are they willing to allow? Is there a hidden agenda?

All of us should be calling our respective Directors about making the necessary changes to turn this company around before its too late!
Hopefully it isn't already.

[email protected]

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