Exhibit 23.1


       Consent and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm





Board of Directors
Seneca Foods Corporation


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Seneca Foods  Corporation  of our report dated May 26, 2004,  included in the
2004 Annual Report to Shareholders of Seneca Foods Corporation.


Our audit  also  included  the  financial  statement  schedule  of Seneca  Foods
Corporation  for the year ended  March 31, 2004  listed in Item  15(A)(2).  This
schedule is the responsibility of the Company's  management.  Our responsibility
is to express  an opinion  based on our audit.  In our  opinion,  the  financial
statement  schedule  referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated  financial  statements  taken as a whole,  presents  fairly  in all
material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the  incorporation  by  reference  in (a) the  Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 of Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-12365) pertaining to
the Seneca Foods Corporation  Employees'  Savings Plan, and (b) the Registration
Statement  (Form S-8 No.  333-114097)  pertaining  to the Seneca  Foods,  L.L.C.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, of our report dated May 26, 2004 with respect to
the consolidated financial statements incorporated herein by reference of Seneca
Foods  Corporation,  and our report  included in the  preceding  paragraph  with
respect to the financial statement schedule of Seneca Foods Corporation included
in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 31, 2004.

                                                  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Buffalo, New York
June 11, 2004