INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINN., (December 5, 2001) — Harvest States Foods today announced that Larry Dow has joined the company as vice president of administration and services and Raul Moreno has been appointed plant manager at its Ft. Worth, Texas, Mexican food production facility.

Dow is responsible for business integration, procurement, transportation, logistics and warehousing, credit and collections and policy management for Harvest States Foods. Prior to joining the company, Dow held credit, collections, purchasing, equipment remarketing, transportation and administration management positions at Farm Credit Leasing, Pickwick International and Ford Motor Credit Corporation. "Larry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in a number of key areas as we continue to integrate our food businesses," said Jim Tibbetts, senior vice president of Harvest States Foods. "Larry will play a key role in helping us build a national Mexican food company."

Moreno is responsible for overall operations at the company's Ft. Worth, Texas Mexican food plant, including production, food safety, sanitation, equipment maintenance and warehousing. Prior to his new position, Moreno was director of purchasing and plant engineer/maintenance manager at the Ft. Worth plant. "Raul is very familiar with the Ft. Worth plant having worked in a number of key positions," said Craig Cram, vice president of manufacturing and operations for Harvest States Foods' Mexican foods business. "We're pleased to provide Raul an opportunity to grow with our business."

Harvest States Foods is a leading manufacturer of flour and corn tortillas, tortilla chips and prepared Mexican foods for the retail, foodservice, national restaurant chain and institutional markets with annual sales over $75 million. Harvest States Foods' family of brands include Arizona Brand®, Cruz®, El Gran Deli®, La Canasta®, La La's® and Paradiso® tortillas; Arizona Brand® and La Canasta® tortilla chips; and Rodriguez® Mexican entrées. Harvest States Foods has Mexican food plants in suburban Minneapolis, Minn.; Ft. Worth, Texas; and Phoenix, Ariz.

Harvest States Foods is a part of Harvest States®, the integrated grains and foods division of CHS Cooperatives (www.CHSco-ops.com). CHS, with headquarters in suburban St. Paul, Minn., is a producer to consumer cooperative system owned by farmers, ranchers and their local cooperatives from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest, and from the Canadian border to Texas.



CHS Cooperatives

Mailing: P.O. Box 64089, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0089

5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota 55077

www.chsco-ops.com