Landec Food Subsidiary Apio Inc. Announces New Chief Operating Officer

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors/Manufacturing Writers

    MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2005--Landec Corporation (Nasdaq:LNDC), a developer and marketer of technology-based polymer products for food, agricultural and licensed partner applications, announced today that Ron Midyett is joining its food subsidiary, Apio, Inc., as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Midyett will assume his new position in May reporting to Nick Tompkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Apio, Inc.
    "We are pleased that someone of Ron's competency and experience will be joining Apio," said Tompkins. "Ron brings to Apio more than 17 years of operational experience in the fresh-cut produce industry, including manufacturing, research and development, regulatory, quality, and overall general management."
    Most recently Ron served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
    David Taft, the Chief Operating Officer of Landec Corporation, has also been the Chief Operating Officer for Apio during the past two years. During that period, David has been instrumental in significantly improving Apio's profitability and decreasing its debt as a result of building a strong organization that is focused on higher-value products and efficient operations. David will continue his role as Landec's Chief Operating Officer and will focus on growth opportunities in other areas of Landec's businesses.
    "Apio has a solid foundation of new technology and a strong organization that David has built with the Apio team. Further, Apio has achieved a market leadership position with its value-added fresh-cut vegetables products packaged in bags and trays which use our proprietary packaging to extend freshness. In addition, Apio has many new programs underway to assure continued service to our customers with innovative and quality products," commented Gary Steele, President and CEO of Landec.
    "Ron plans to start his new role with Apio on May 9, 2005, and will work closely with David during the transition period," added Tompkins. "We look forward to the experience Ron brings to our organization. We have grown significantly in the last three years and are now the market leader in supplying fresh-cut vegetables and tray products to the produce industry. We have exciting opportunities in many new areas using our patented and proprietary modified atmosphere packaging technology. In addition, we have a number of innovative products emerging from our recently initiated banana collaboration with Chiquita. Ron will be instrumental in helping to bring all of these programs to commercialization."

    About Apio Inc.

    Since 1996, Apio Inc. has commercially marketed a complete line of fresh-cut vegetable products using Landec's proprietary Intelimer(R) specialty packaging under the Eat Smart(R) Brand. In 2003 the Company announced that it had entered into an exclusive packaging and marketing agreement with Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. for Apio to sell and distribute a line of fresh-cut produce under the Dole(R) Brand in the United States.
    The Company's proprietary packaging technology provides an optimal atmosphere within the package to extend shelf life and preserve the freshness of the produce and allows Apio to distribute its products without ice. The product line includes broccoli florets, broccoli slaw, broccoli and carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, cauliflower florets, vegetable medley and vegetable stir-fry in twelve-ounce, two-pound and three-pound packages. In addition to fresh-cut bagged vegetables, Apio has a full line of fresh-cut vegetable trays packaged with Intelimer specialty packaging.

    About Landec Corporation

    Landec Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and sells temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food, agricultural and licensed partner applications. The Company's temperature-activated polymer products are based on its proprietary Intelimer polymers which differ from other polymers in that they can be customized to abruptly change their physical characteristics when heated or cooled through a pre-set temperature switch.

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CONTACT: Landec Corporation Gregory S. Skinner, 650-306-1650 (Vice President Finance and CFO) or EAS & Associates Liz Saghi, 805-687-2038

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ADVERTISING/MARKETING ENVIRONMENT FOODS/BEVERAGES RETAIL FOREST PRODUCTS MANAGEMENT CHANGES SOURCE: Landec Corporation

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