Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.9(A)

                              MURPHY FARMS, INC.

           8.25% SENIOR UNSECURED FIXED RATE NOTES DUE MARCH 2,2006
                               PPN: 62667# AA 8

              SENIOR UNSECURED LIBOR RATE NOTES DUE MARCH 2,2002
                               PPN: 62667# AB 6

                            NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

______________________________________________________________________________

                           Dated as of March 2, 1999

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
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                            NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of March 2,1999, between MURPHY FARMS,
INC., a North Carolina corporation (together with its successors and assigns,
the "Company") and the institutional investors identified on Annex I (whether
one or more, the "Purchasers").

                                   RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to sell to the Purchasers and the Purchasers
are willing to purchase upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Seventy-Five Million ($75,000,000) Dollars in aggregate original
principal amount of the Company's 8.25% Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes to be
due March 2, 2006 and Twenty-Five Million ($25,000,000) Dollars in aggregate
original principal amount of the Company's Senior Unsecured LIBOR Rate Notes to
be due March 2, 2002; and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers wish to enter into this Agreement
to govern the terms of such Notes;

                                   AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
set forth herein, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

1.   AUTHORIZATION; RANKING.

     1A.  Authorization of Issue of the Notes.  The Company will authorize the
issue and sale of its

          (i)  8.25% Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes in the aggregate
     principal amount of $75,000,000 to be dated the date of issue, to mature
     March 2, 2006 and to bear interest as provided herein, which Notes shall be
     in the form of Exhibit A(l) (the "Fixed Rate Notes"); and

          (ii) Senior Unsecured LIBOR Rate Notes in the aggregate principal
     amount of $125,000,000 to be dated the date of issue, to mature March 2,
     2002 and to bear interest as provided herein, which Notes shall be in the
     form of Exhibit A(2) (the "LIBOR Rate Notes", and collectively with the
     Fixed Rate Notes, the "Notes").

     Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in paragraph
10; references to a "Schedule", "Annex" or an "Exhibit are, unless otherwise
specified, to a Schedule, Annex or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

     1B.  Ranking.  The Notes will constitute the direct senior obligations of
the Company and will rank not less than pari passu in priority of payment with
each other and with all other outstanding Debt of the Company, present or
future, except for Debt which is preferred as a
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result of being secured (to the extent such security is not prohibited by
paragraph 6 B(i) and then only to the extent of such security).

     1C.  Interest on the Notes.  The Company shall pay to the Holders interest
on the unpaid principal amount of the Notes owing to each Holder at the rates,
time and manner set forth below.

          (i)    Rate of Interest; Post-Default Interest.

               (a)  Each Fixed Rate Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
          principal amount thereof from the date issued through maturity
          (whether by prepayment, acceleration or otherwise) at the rate of
          8.25% per annum.

               (b)  Each LIBOR Rate Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
          principal amount thereof from the date issued through maturity
          (whether by prepayment, acceleration or otherwise) at the then
          applicable LIBOR Rate, as reset for each LIBOR Interest Period on the
          first Business Day of March, June, September and December of each
          year, plus the Applicable Margin.

          (ii)   Interest Payments.

               (a)  Interest on each Fixed Rate Note shall be payable in arrears
          on June 2nd, September 2nd, December 2nd and March 2nd of each year,
          commencing on the first of such dates to follow the Closing Date, upon
          any prepayment of such Fixed Rate Note (to the extent accrued on the
          amount being prepaid) and at maturity, whether by acceleration or
          otherwise, of such Fixed Rate Note.

               (b)  Interest on each LIBOR Rate Note shall be payable in arrears
          at the end of each LIBOR Interest Period, commencing on the first of
          such dates to follow the Closing Date, upon any prepayment of such
          LIBOR Rate Note (to the extent accrued on the amount being prepaid)
          and at maturity, whether by acceleration or otherwise, of such LIBOR
          Rate Note.

          (iii)  Post-Maturity Interest.  Any principal payments on the Notes
     not paid when due and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any
     interest payment or Make Whole Amount on the Notes not paid when due, in
     each case whether at stated maturity, by notice of pre-payment, by
     acceleration or otherwise, shall thereafter bear interest payable upon
     demand at a rate per annum (the "Default Rate") equal to the lesser of.

               (a)  the highest rate allowed by applicable law; or

               (b)  the annual interest rate then applicable to principal
          outstanding under such Note and not then overdue plus 2%.

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          (iv)   Computation of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be
     computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months. In
     computing interest on the Notes, the date of the issuance of the Notes
     shall be included and the date of payment shall be excluded.

2.   PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE NOTES; CLOSING.

     2A.  Purchase and Sale of the Notes.  Subject to the terms and conditions
of this agreement, the Company shall sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser
shall purchase from the Company, Notes of the class and in the principal amount
specified below such Purchaser's name in Annex 1, at a price equal to 100% of
such principal amount, registered in such Purchaser's name or that of the
Purchasers nominee or nominees as specified in Annex 1.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, each Purchaser's obligations under this Agreement are several and not
joint obligations and no Purchaser shall have any obligation or liability for
the performance or non-performance by any other Purchaser of such other
Purchaser's obligations under this Agreement.

     2B.  Closing.  The purchase and sale of the Notes shall take place at the
offices of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, One Post Office Square, Boston, 02109, at a
closing (the "Closing") to be held on March 2, 1999 or on such other Business
Day as the Purchasers and the Company may agree (the "Closing Date").  At the
Closing, the Company will deliver to each Purchaser, the Notes to be purchased
by it, against payments of the purchase price therefor by transfer of
immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with the wiring
instructions set forth on Annex 2.  If at the Closing, the Company fails to
tender any Notes to any Purchaser as provided in this paragraph 2B, or if any of
the conditions specified in paragraph 3 shall not have been fulfilled to a
Purchaser's satisfaction, such Purchaser may, at its election, be relieved of
all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights
such Purchaser may have by reason of such failure or non-fulfillment.

3.   CONDITIONS OF CLOSING.  Each Purchaser's obligation to purchase and pay for
its Notes is subject to the fulfillment to its satisfaction or its written
waiver, on or before the Closing Date, of the following conditions:

     3A.  Charter and Proceedings.  On or before the Closing Date, all corporate
and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the Transactions
and all documents incidental hereto and thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory
in form and substance to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers shall have received
the following items, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Purchasers and, unless otherwise noted, dated the Closing
Date, and in sufficient copies (except for the Notes), for each Purchaser:

          (i)    Certified copies of resolutions of the board of directors of
     the Company approving this Agreement, the Notes, and other Transaction
     Documents, to which it is or is to be a party, and of all documents
     evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental and other
     third party approvals and consents, if any, with respect to this Agreement,
     the Notes, and each other Transaction Document.

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          (ii)   A copy of the charter of the Company and each amendment
     thereto, certified (as of a date reasonably near the date of the Closing
     Date) by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of its incorporation as
     being a true and correct copy thereof.

          (iii)  A copy of a certificate of the Secretary of State of the
     jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation, dated within 10 Business Days
     prior to the date of the Closing Date listing the charter of the Company
     and each amendment thereto on file in its office and certifying that (a)
     such amendments are the only amendments to the Company's charter on file in
     its office, (b) the Company has paid all franchise taxes to the date of
     such certificate and (c) the Company is duly incorporated and in good
     standing under the laws of the State of the jurisdiction of its
     incorporation.

          (iv)   A copy of a certificate of the Secretary of State of each State
     listed on Schedule 8A, dated reasonably near the date of the Closing Date,
     stating that the Company is duly qualified and in good standing as a
     foreign corporation in such State and has filed all annual reports required
     to be filed to the date of such certificate.

          (v)    A certificate of the Company signed on behalf of the Company by
     a Senior Officer and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
     Company, dated the date of the Closing Date (and the statements made in
     such certificate shall be true on and as of the date of the Closing Date)
     certifying as to (a) the absence of any amendments to the charter of the
     Company since the date of the Secretary of State's certificate referred to
     in clause (iii) above, (b) a true and correct copy of the by-laws of the
     Company as in effect on the date of the Closing Date, (c) the absence of
     any proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (d) as to
     the matters set forth in paragraph 3D, and (e) the absence of any event
     occurring and continuing, or resulting from the Closing, that constitutes a
     Default or an Event of Default.

          (vi)   A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
     certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Company
     authorized to sign this Agreement, the Notes, each other Transaction
     Document to which it is or is to be a part, and the other documents to be
     delivered hereunder and thereunder.

          (vii)  Originals of this Agreement and the Notes to be issued to each
     Purchaser in the respective principal amounts set forth below such
     Purchaser's name on Annex I executed by a Senior Officer.

          (viii) A certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a Senior
     Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers,
     attesting to the Solvency of the Company immediately before and immediately
     after giving effect to consummation of the Transactions.

     3B.  Opinion of Company Counsel.  The Purchasers shall have received a
favorable opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to them, from The
Sanford Holshouser Law Firm PLLC, counsel to the Company, covering the matters
set forth in Exhibit B and such other matters as any Purchaser or Special
Counsel may reasonably request and otherwise in form and

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substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers. To the extent that the
opinion referred to in this paragraph 3B is rendered in reliance upon the
opinion of any other counsel, the Purchasers shall have received a copy of the
opinion of such other counsel, dated the Closing Date and addressed to them, or
a letter from such other counsel, dated the Closing Date and addressed to them,
authorizing them to rely on such other counsel's opinion. The opinions of
counsel to the Company and any such other counsel shall be in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers and Special Counsel.

     3C.  Opinion of Purchasers' Special Counsel.  The Purchasers shall have
received from Special Counsel an opinion satisfactory to them as to such matters
incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as they may
reasonably request.

     3D.  Representations and Warranties and Compliance.  The representations
and warranties contained in paragraph 8 shall be true on and as of the Closing
Date after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and application of
the proceeds as contemplated by paragraph 51); no Default or Event of Default
shall have, occurred or be continuing; and the Company shall have performed and
complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required
to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.  The Company
shall not have entered into any transaction since the date of the most recent of
the Financial Statements that would have been prohibited by paragraph 6B had
this Agreement been in effect since such date.

     3E.  Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws.  The offering, issuance,
purchase and sale of and payment for, the Notes on the Closing Date on the terms
and conditions of this Agreement (including the use of the proceeds of such
sale) shall be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to
which a Purchaser is subject, without recourse to provisions (such as Section
1405(a)(8) of the New York Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by life
insurance companies without restriction as to the character of the particular
investment, shall not violate any applicable law or governmental regulation
(including, without limitation, section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation T,
U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and shall not
subject any Purchaser to any tax, penalty, liability or other condition adverse
to it under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and
the Purchasers shall have received such certificates or other evidence as to
matters of fact as they may reasonably request to enable them to determine
whether such purchase is so permitted.

     3F.  Private Placement Numbers.  A Private Placement Number shall have been
assigned to the Fixed Rate Notes and to the LIBOR Rate Notes by Standard &
Poor's CUSIP Service Bureau.

     3G.  Sale of all Notes.  The Company shall have sold to each other
Purchaser, and each other Purchaser shall have purchased, the Notes to be
purchased by it as set forth in Annex 1.

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     3H.  Consent of Other Persons.  The Company shall have received all
authorizations, consents and approvals necessary in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby including those identified in Schedule 8L, in
form and substance to the Purchasers.

     3I.  Continuation of Appointment of Agent for Service of Process.  The
Purchasers shall have received written evidence satisfactory to them that CT
Corporation Systems, Inc. has been appointed by the Company as its agent for
service of process in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that CT Corporation
Systems, Inc. has agreed to provide the Purchasers with not less than 30 days
prior notice of any termination of such appointment.

     3J.  Payment of Special Counsel Fees.  Without limiting the provisions of
paragraph 11 A, the Company shall have paid the reasonable fees, charges and
disbursements of Special Counsel (which may include a reasonable reserve for
anticipated fees and expenses) to the extent reflected in a statement of Special
Counsel rendered to the Company at or before the Closing.

     3K.  Changes in Corporate Structure.  The Company shall not have changed
its jurisdiction of incorporation or shall have been a party to any merger or
consolidation or shall have succeeded to all or any substantial part, of the
liabilities of any other Person, at any time, after the date of its most recent
Financial Statement.

     3L.  Amendment of Revolving Credit Agreement.  Contemporaneously with the
Closing, (i) the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated to
reduce the maximum aggregate commitment thereunder to $75,000,000 and on other
terms and conditions satisfactory to the Purchasers and (ii) the Purchasers
shall have received evidence satisfactory to them that, effective upon
application of the proceeds of the Notes and the New Farm Credit Term Loan, the
aggregate amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement will not
exceed $75,000,000.

     3M.  Amendment of Farm Credit Agreement.  Contemporaneously with the
Closing, the Farm Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated to provide for
an additional, unsecured, term loan for $25,000,000 in original principal amount
(the "New Farm Credit Term Loan") on terms and conditions satisfactory to the
Purchasers and the Proceeds of the New Farm Credit Term Loan shall have been
used solely to repay amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement
and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

     3N.  Intercreditor Agreement.  The Company and the Bank Lenders shall have
entered into an Intercreditor Agreement with the Purchasers in the form of
Exhibit D (the "Intercreditor Agreement).

4.   PREPAYMENT AND REPAYMENT OF NOTES.  The Notes may be prepaid only under the
circumstances set forth in paragraph 4A and shall be repaid in accordance with
paragraph 4C and 4D and upon any acceleration of final maturity as provided in
paragraph 7B.

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     4A.  Optional Prepayment of Notes at Any Time.

          (i)    The Company may prepay the Fixed Rate Notes in full, or in part
     in multiples of $1,000,000 on any date on which interest is required to be
     paid on such Notes pursuant to paragraph IC, together with (a) interest
     accrued on the principal amount being prepaid to the Settlement Date and
     (b) the Fixed Rate Make Whole Amount; and

          (ii)   After March 2, 2000, the Company may prepay the LIBOR Rate
     Notes in full, or in part in multiples of $1,000,000 on any date on which
     interest is required to be paid on such Notes pursuant to paragraph IC,
     together with (a) interest accrued on the principal amount being prepaid to
     the Settlement Date and (b) the LIBOR Rate Make Whole Amount.

     4B.  Notice of Optional Prepayment.. The Company shall give each Holder
irrevocable written notice of any prepayment to be made pursuant to paragraph 4A
at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Settlement Date
specifying:

          (i)    the Settlement Date and the Called Principal of the Notes held
     by each such Holder;

          (ii)   that such prepayment is to be made pursuant to paragraph 4A;
     and

          (iii)  an estimate of the Make Whole Amount payable on the Called
     Principal of such Holder's Notes (calculated as if the date of such notice
     were the date of prepayment), together with the details of such
     computation.

     Upon the giving of such notice, the Called Principal of the Notes together
with interest accrued thereon to the Settlement Date and the Make Whole Amount
shall become due and payable on the Settlement Date.  Not later than the close
of business on the second Business Day prior to the Settlement Date, the Company
shall deliver to each Holder an Officers' Certificate setting forth in detail
the calculations used in determining whether a Make Whole Amount is payable on
such prepayment and the amount of such Make Whole Amount.

     4C.  Scheduled Repayment of Notes.  Subject to paragraph 4E below, the
Company shall:

          (i)    on the 2nd day of March of each year, commencing March 2, 2002,
     repay $15,000,000.00 of principal of the Fixed Rate Notes and in any event,
     on March 2, 2006 shall repay in full all unpaid principal of the Fixed Rate
     Notes; and

          (ii)   on March 2, 2002 repay in full all unpaid principal of the
     LIBOR Rate Notes.

     4D.  Prepayment of Notes Upon a Change of Control.  The Company shall give
written notice (a "Change of Control Notice") to each Holder not less than 30
nor more than 60

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day 3 prior to the occurrence of any event which may result in a Change of
Control, or if the Company does not have knowledge that such an event is to
occur until less than 30 days prior thereto, or until after the occurrence
thereof, then as promptly as practicable, but: in no event more than 5 days
after the Company first acquires knowledge that such art event is to occur or
has occurred. The Change of Control Notice shall identify the event, the reason
why such event may result in or has resulted in a Change of Control and the
Persons involved, -and shall include such financial and other information as is
available to the Company or which may be obtained by the Company with reasonable
effort that would be reasonably necessary for a Holder to make an informed
decision ;as to whether to elect to require prepayment of its Notes under this
paragraph 4D and shall set forth the proposed effective date for, or if the
Change of Control has occurred, the actual date, of such Change of Control. Any
Holder, by giving written notice to the Company of such election (an "Election
Notice") not later than 5 Business Days prior to the effective date of such
Change of Control, if the Change of Control Notice is given at least 30 days
prior to such effective date, and otherwise not later-than 30 days after the
Change of Control Notice is given, shall have the option to require the Company
to prepay all of its Notes at 1 00% of the principal amount thereof plus
interest accrued thereon to the Settlement Date and the Make Whole Amount. Once
given, any Election Notice may be revoked, by notice, given at any time up to
the last date an Election Notice could have been given with respect to the
Change of Control Notice. If the proposed terms of a Change of Control change
substantially, or if any other event which may result in a Change of Control may
or has occurred, the Company shall give each Holder a revised Change of Control
Notice and each Holder shall then have another opportunity to elect to require
prepayment of its Notes under this paragraph 41) by delivering to the Company a
new Election Notice or to revoke, by written notice to the Company, any prior
Election Notice, not later than 30 days following the date such revised Change
of Control Notice is given. 'The prepayment of a Holder's Notes pursuant to this
paragraph 4D shall occur on the later of (a) the effective date of Such Change
of Control or (b) 5 Business Days following the date such Holder's Election
Notice is given. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no prepayment or early
redemption shall be required pursuant to this paragraph 4D unless a Change of
Control occurs or has occurred.

     Not later than the close of business on the second Business Day prior to
the Settlement Date of a prepayment under this paragraph 4D, the Company shall
deliver to the Holder of each Note to be prepaid an Officers' Certificate
starting whether a Make Whole Amount is payable in connection with such
prepayment and setting forth in detail the calculations used in making such
determination.

     If the Company fails to give a Change of Control Notice and -a Change of
Control Occurs, or fails to give a proper Change of Control Notice as to a
Change of Control which has occurred, any Holder may, at any time after the
occurrence of such Change of Control, without waiver of any right on the part of
the Holder to accelerate its Notes pursuant to paragraph 7B, require the
Company, on demand pursuant to this paragraph 4D, to prepay all of such Holder's
Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the
Settlement Date and the Make Whole Amount.

     4E.  Payments Pro Rata; Application of Payments.  Upon any partial
prepayment of the Notes pursuant to paragraph 4A and any scheduled repayment of
the Notes pursuant to

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paragraph 4C, the principal amount so prepaid or repaid plus the interest
accrued thereon and the Make Whole Amount shall be allocated among the Holders
in proportion to respective outstanding principal amounts of the class of Notes
held by them to which such prepayment or scheduled repayment applies. All
partial prepayments of principal made to the Holders in respect of the Fixed
Rate Notes shall be applied to the obligations of the Company to make the
scheduled payments required by paragraph 4C in inverse order of maturity.

     4F.  Retirement of Notes.  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Affiliates to, prepay or otherwise retire any Note in whole or in part,
prior to its stated maturity (other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A
or 4D, scheduled repayment pursuant to paragraph 4C or upon acceleration of
final maturity pursuant to paragraph 7B), or purchase or otherwise acquire,
directly or indirectly, any Note held by any Holder unless the Company or such
Affiliate shall have offered to prepay or otherwise retire, purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire, as the case may be, the same proportion of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Notes of the same class held by each other
Holder at the time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions.  Any such
offer shall provide each Holder with sufficient information to enable it to make
an informed decision with respect to such offer, and shall remain open for at
least 10 Business Days.  If the Required Holders accept such offer, the Company
shall promptly notify the remaining Holders of such fact and the expiration date
for the acceptance by Holders of such offer shall be extended by the number of
days necessary to give each such Holder at least 10 Business Days from its
receipt of such notice to accept such offer.  No Notes so prepaid or otherwise
retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its
Affiliates shall thereafter be reissued or deemed to be outstanding for any
purpose under this Agreement.

     4G.  Manner of Payment.

          (i)    Manner of Payment.  The Company shall pay all amounts payable
     with respect to each Note (without any presentment of such Notes and
     without any notation of such payment being made thereon) by crediting, by
     federal funds bank wire transfer, the account of the Holder thereof in any
     bank in the United States of America as may be designated in writing by
     such Holder, or in such other manner or to such other address in the United
     States of America as may be reasonably designated in writing by such
     Holder. Absent subsequent notice from a Purchaser, Annex I shall be deemed
     to constitute designation by the Purchasers to the Company with respect to
     payments to be made to the Purchasers on their Notes. In the absence of a
     written designation by a Holder, all amounts payable with respect to each
     Note held by such Holder shall be paid by check mailed and addressed to the
     applicable Holder at such Holder's Home Office. All payments of principal
     and interest and fees hereunder and under the Notes by the Company shall be
     made without defense, set-off or counterclaim.

          (ii)   Payments Due on Holidays.  If any payment due on, or with
     respect to, any Note shall fall due on a day other than a Business Day,
     then such payment shall be made on the first Business Day following the day
     on which such payment was due; provided that if ;all or any portion of such
     payment shall consist-of a payment of interest, for purposes of calculating
     such interest, such payment shall be deemed to have been originally due on
     such first following Business Day, such interest shall accrue., and be

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     payable to (but not including) the actual date of payment, and the amount
     of the next succeeding interest payment shall be adjusted accordingly.

          (iii)  Payments When Received.  Any payment to be made to the Holders
     hereunder or under the Notes shall be deemed to have been made on the
     Business Day such payment actually becomes available at such Holder's bank
     prior to the close of business of such bank, provided that interest for one
                                                  --------
     (1) day at the non-default interest rate of the Notes shall be due on the
     amount of any such payment that actually becomes available to such Holder
     at such Holder's bank after 1:00 p.m. (local time of such bank).

     4H.  Taxes.

          (i)    Any and all payments by the Company hereunder or under the
     Notes shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all
     present or future Taxes and all liabilities with respect thereto,
     excluding, (i) in the case of each Holder, net income taxes that are
     imposed by the United States and net income taxes (or franchise taxes
     imposed in lieu thereof that are imposed on such Holder- by the state or
     foreign jurisdiction under the laws of which such Holder is organized or
     any political subdivision thereof, (ii) in the case of each Holder, net
     income taxes (or franchise taxes imposed in lieu thereof that are imposed
     on such Holder by the state or foreign jurisdiction of such Holder's
     applicable Home Office or any political subdivision thereof and (iii) in
     the case of any Holder that becomes a party after the Closing Date, any
     taxes imposed by the United States solely by reason of the organization or
     incorporation of such Holder outside the United States (all such non-
     excluded Taxes and liabilities being referred to as "Covered Taxes"). If
     the Company shall be required by law to deduct any Covered Taxes from or in
     respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Note to any Holder, (i)
     the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making
     all Required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums
     payable under this paragraph 4H) such Holder receives an amount equal to
     the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the
     Company shall make such deductions and (iii) the Company shall pay the full
     amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in
     accordance with applicable law.

          (ii)   In addition, the Company shall pay any present or future stamp,
     documentary, excise, property or similar Taxes that arise from or in
     connection with or as a result of' the issuance of the Notes, any payment
     made hereunder or under the Notes or the execution, delivery or
     registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this
     Agreement or the Notes, or any modification, waiver or amendment of this
     Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document (hereinafter
     referred to as "Other Taxes").

          (iii)  The Company shall indemnify each Holder for the full amount of
     Taxes and Other Taxes, and for the full amount of Covered Taxes imposed by
     any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this paragraph 4H, imposed on or
     paid by such Holder and any liability (including penalties, additions to
     tax, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
     whether or not such Covered Taxes were correctly or legally imposed.  This
     indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date such

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     Holder makes written demand on the Company specifying in reasonable detail
     the basis therefor.

          (iv)   Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of
     Covered Taxes or Other Taxes, the Company shall furnish to the subject
     Holder a copy of the original receipt, certified as true and correct by a
     Senior Officer. If the Company determines that no Covered Taxes or Other
     Taxes are payable in respect thereof, the Company shall furnish, or shall
     cause such payor to furnish, to the Company an opinion of counsel stating
     that such payment is exempt from Covered Taxes or Other Taxes.

          (v)    Each Holder, to the extent it lawfully may, agrees, at the
     expense of the Company, to cooperate with the Company and to take such
     steps as the Company shall reasonably request to contest, solely in the
     name of the Company, the applicability of any Covered Taxes to such Holder
     or to recover Covered Taxes paid which were incorrectly or illegally
     imposed; provided in no event shall such Holder be obliged to file any tax
     forms or certifications in the name of such Holder or to disclose any
     information which it considers confidential to it or which it has an
     obligation of confidentiality or to take any action which in its reasonable
     judgment could expose it to additional liability unless it has received
     indemnification therefor satisfactory to it in its sole discretion.

     4I.  Make Whole Amount.  The Company acknowledges that the Make Whole
Amount due at any optional or required prepayment of Notes (including any
prepayment required pursuant to any provision of this paragraph 4 or paragraph
7B) has been negotiated with the Purchasers to provide a bargained for rate of
return on the Purchasers' investment in the Notes and is not a penalty.

5.   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

     5A.  Financial and Other Reporting by the Company.  The Company will
deliver to each Holder:

          (i)    as soon as practicable, and in any event not more than 45 days
     after the end of each fiscal quarter (except the last quarter of each
     Fiscal Year), the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated
     Group as at the end of such quarterly period and the related unaudited
     consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows
     of the Consolidated Group for such period and for the Fiscal Year to date,
     setting forth, in each case in comparative form, figures for the
     corresponding period(s) in the preceding Fiscal Year, all in reasonable
     detail and in accordance with GAAP, and certified by the chief accounting
     officer or chief financial officer of the Company as fairly presenting the
     financial condition of the Consolidated Group as at the dates indicated and
     the results of its operations and cash flows, in each case for the periods
     indicated, in conformity with GAAP (except as disclosed in such
     certificate), with any changes in accounting policies discussed in
     reasonable detail, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments
     not material in scope or amount;

                                       11
<PAGE>

          (ii)   as soon as practicable, and in any event not more than 90 days,
     after the end of (each Fiscal Year of the Company, the consolidated balance
     sheet of the Consolidated Group as of the end of such year and the related
     consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows
     of the Consolidated Group for such year, and setting forth in each case in
     comparative  form, corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year, all
     in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by an
     opinion thereon of the Approved Auditor, which opinion shall be without
     limitation as to the scope of the audit and shall state that such financial
     statements present fairly in all material respects, the consolidated
     financial condition of the Consolidated Group as at the dates indicated and
     the results of their consolidated operations and cash flows for the periods
     indicated in conformity with GAAP (except as otherwise specified in such
     report) and that the audit by such accountants in connection with such
     financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted
     auditing standards and provides a reasonable basis for such opinion;

          (iii)  together with each delivery of financial statements of the
     Consolidated Group pursuant to subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph
     5A, a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company (a) stating
     that the signer has reviewed the terms of the Transaction Documents and has
     made, or caused -to be made under the signer's supervision, a review in
     reasonable detail of the transactions and condition of the Consolidated
     Group during the fiscal period covered by such financial statements and
     that such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of
     such fiscal period, of any Default or Event of Default or, if any such
     Default or Event of Default existed or exists, specifying the nature and
     period of existence thereof and what action the Company has taken or is
     taking or propose to take with respect thereto; (b) demonstrating (if
     applicable, with computations in reasonable detail) compliance by the
     Company with the provisions of paragraphs 6A and 6B(l), 6B(3), 6B(6) and
     6B(7); ,and (c) analyzing the principal changes in the results of
     operations of the Consolidated Group for such Fiscal Year or quarter from
     the results of operations of the Consolidated Group for the immediately
     preceding Fiscal Year or quarter;

          (iv)   together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to
     subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph 6A, a certificate by the Approved
     Auditor stating (a) that their audit examination has included a review of
     the terms of the Transaction Documents as they relate to accounting matters
     and that such review is sufficient to enable them to make the statement
     referred to in clause (c) of this subparagraph (iv), (b) whether, in the
     course of their audit examination, there has been disclosed the existence
     during the fiscal year covered by such financial statements (and whether
     they have knowledge of the existence as of the (late of such accountants'
     certificate) of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Event
     of Default under paragraphs 6A or 6B and if during their audit examination
     there has been disclosed (or if they have knowledge of such a condition or
     event, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof (it being
     understood, however, that such accountants shall not be liable to any
     Person by reason of their failure to obtain knowledge of any Default or
     Event of Default which would not be obtained in the course of an audit
     conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards), and
     (c) that based on their annual examination

                                       12
<PAGE>

     nothing came to their, attention which causes them to believe that the
     information contained in the certificate of the Company's chief financial
     officers delivered therewith pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this
     paragraph 5A is not correct or that the matters set forth in such
     certificate are not stated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

          (v)    promptly after receipt thereof by the Company, copies of all
     material reports submitted to the Company by independent public accountants
     or consultants in connection with each annual, interim or special audit of
     the books of the Consolidated Group;

          (vi)   promptly after any Senior Officer obtains actual knowledge (a)
     of any Default or Event of Default, (b) that any Holder has given notice to
     the Company or taken any other action with respect to a claimed Default or
     Event of Default under this Agreement, or (c) that any Person has given any
     notice to the Company or any Subsidiary or taken any other action with
     respect to a claimed default or event or condition of the type referred to
     in subparagraph (iii) of paragraph 7A, an Officers' Certificate specifying
     the nature and period of existence of any such Default or Event of Default,
     or specifying the notice given or action taken by such Holder or Person and
     the nature of such claimed Default, Event of Default, event or condition,
     and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with
     respect thereto;

          (vii)  promptly, and in any event within 5 days after an, Senior
     Officer obtains knowledge of any of the following, a written notice setting
     forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Company or any
     ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:

               (a)  with respect to any Plan, any "reportable event" (as defined
          in section 4043(b) of ERISA) for which notice thereof has not been
          waived pursuant to regulations of the DOL or "prohibited transaction"
          (as such term is defined in section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of
          the IRC) in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder;
          or

               (b)  the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the
          threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under
          section 4042 of ERI.13;A for the termination of, or the appointment of
          a trustee to administer, any Plan, and any distress termination notice
          delivered to the PBGIC under section 4041 of ERISA in respect of any
          Plan, and any determination of the PBGC in respect thereof;

               (c)  the placement of any Multiemployer Plan in reorganization
          status under Title IV of ERISA, any Multiemployer Plan becoming
          "insolvent" (as such term is defined in section 4245 of ERISA) under
          Title IV of ERISA, or the whole or partial withdrawal of the Company
          or any ERISA Affiliate from any Multiemployer Plan and the withdrawal
          liability incurred in connection therewith; or

                                       13
<PAGE>

               (d)  any event, Transaction or condition that could result in the
          incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or
          the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets
          of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, pursuant to Title I or IV of
          ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to
          employee benefit plans, if such liability or Lien, taken together with
          any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, could reasonably be
          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (viii) if at any time the Company shall have public stockholders or
     debtholders, (a) promptly after transmission thereof, copies of all such
     financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as the Company
     shall send or make available to Such stockholders or debtholders and copies
     of all registration statements (with exhibits), prospectuses and all
     periodic reports which it files with the SEC or any stock exchange and of
     all press releases and other statements made available generally by the
     Company to the public concerning material developments and (b) promptly
     after receipt thereof, copies of any reports, statements and notices the
     Company may receive in accordance with Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
     Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange;

          (ix)   promptly after transmission thereof, copies of all such
     financial statements, notices; certificates and reports as the Company
     shall send to any other lender or group of lenders, if the aggregate amount
     of Debt outstanding by the Consolidated Group to such lender or group of
     lenders exceeds $1,000,000;

          (x)    promptly after the commencement of any action or proceeding
     relating to the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any
     Governmental Authority or arbitration board or tribunal as to which there
     is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if
     adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a material
     Adverse Effect, a notice specifying the nature and period of existence
     thereof and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to
     take with respect thereto; and

          (xi)   With reasonable promptness, such other information and data
     with respect to the Company, the Consolidated Group or its Contract Growers
     or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under
     the Transaction Documents as may from time to time be reasonably requested
     by any Holder.

     5B.  Information Required by Rule 144A.  The Company will, upon the request
of any Holder, provide to such Holder, and any Qualified Institutional Buyer
designated by such, Holder, such financial and other information as such Holder
may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the
information requirements of Rule 144A in connection with a resale or proposed
resale of any Note.

     5C.  Inspection of Property.  The Company will permit the representatives
of any Holder to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, including any such property in the possession or custody of
its Contract Growers, to examine) all

                                       14
<PAGE>

their respective books of account, records reports and other papers, to make
copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances
and accounts with their respective officers, employees and independent public
accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to
discuss the finances and affairs of the Company and the Subsidiaries) all at
such reasonable time and as often as may The reasonably requested. At all times
during which there exists a Default or Event of Default, any reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses incurred by the Holders in connection with this paragraph 5C
shall be paid in accordance with paragraph 11A.

     5D.  Corporate Existence, Etc.  Except as otherwise specifically permitted
by this Agreement, the:, Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, at all
times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, and
rights and franchises material to its business, and qualify and maintain its
qualification to do business and good standing in any jurisdiction where the
failure to do so individually or in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse
Effect.

     5E.  Payment of Taxes and Claims.

          (i)    The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary -to, file all
     Tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and pay all Taxes
     shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other Taxes imposed
     upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its
     franchises, business, income, sales and services, or profits when the same
     become due and payable, but in any event before any penalty or interest
     accrues thereon, and all claims (including, without limitation, claims for
     labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums which have become due and
     payable and which have or might become a Lien upon any of its properties or
     assets, provided, that no such Tax or claim need be paid if (a) it is being
             --------
     actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and if
     reasonable reserves or other appropriate Provision, if any, as shall be
     required by GAAP shall have been made therefor, and (b) the failure to pay
     such Tax or claim is not expected, if such contest were adversely
     determined, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (ii)   The Company will not consent to or- permit the filing of or be
     a party to any consolidated income tax return on its behalf or on behalf of
     any of its Subsidiaries with any Person (other than a consolidated return
     that includes solely the Company and its Subsidiaries).

     5F.  Compliance with Laws, Etc.  The Company will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of
any Governmental Authority to which it is subject, and obtain and maintain in
effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental
authorizations necessary to the ownership of its properties or to the conduct of
its businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to reasonably ensure that
noncompliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or- regulations
or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, permits, franchises
and other governmental authorizations in the aggregate do not, and could not
reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       15
<PAGE>

     5G.  Maintenance of Properties and Leases.  The Company will, and will
cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, in good repair and working order and
condition (other than ordinary wear and tear and obsolescence excepted) all
properties used in the (Consolidated Group's business (except to the extent the
failure -to so maintain, repair and keep in good working order does not, and is
not expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect), and from time to time make or
cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals, replacements, additions and
improvements thereof as needed and comply in all material respects with the
provisions of all leases or licenses under which it leases or licenses any such
properties.

     5H.  Insurance.  The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect
to its properties and business of such types and in such forms and amounts
(including deductibles, coinsurance and self-insurance if adequate reserves are
maintained with respect thereto) and against such risks as is reasonable and
prudent in the circumstances and as are customarily insured against by Persons
of established reputation engaged in the same or similar business and similarly
situated.

     5I.  Use of Proceeds.  The Company will use the proceeds of the sale of the
Notes only to repay amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement and
for working capital and general corporate purposes, and not for any purpose
which would violate any applicable law or governmental regulation or which is
otherwise prohibited under paragraph 8J.

     5J.  Environmental Compliance and Indemnification.

          (i)    The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) obtain
     and maintain all permits, licenses, and other, authorizations that are
     required of it under all Environmental Laws other than those which the
     failure to obtain or maintain individually or in the aggregate do not, and
     could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, and
     (b) comply with all terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses, and
     authorizations arid with all other limitations, restrictions, conditions,
     standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations, schedules, and
     timetables contained in all Environmental Laws or in any regulation,
     ordinance or code applicable to it any, plan, order, decree, judgment,
     injunction, notice, or demand letter issued, entered, promulgated, or
     approved thereunder directly applicable to it, except to the extent of
     noncompliance which, in the aggregate,, does not, and could not reasonably
     be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) operate all
     property owned or leased by it such that no claims or obligations,
     including clean-up obligations, which in the aggregate, have, or could
     reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, shall arise
     under any Environmental Law, and if any claim is made against it or any
     such obligation shall arise under any Environmental Law, it shall at its
     own cost and expense, timely satisfy such claim or obligation, provided no
     such claim or obligation need be satisfied for so long as (1) it is being
     actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and  (2) such
     reserves or- other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by
     GAAP shall have been made therefor.

          (ii)   The Company agrees to defend, indemnify and hold the
     Purchasers, each Holder and their respective affiliates, employees, agents,
     officers and directors from and

                                       16
<PAGE>

     against any claims, demand, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements,
     damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, known or unknown,
     contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the
     violation of, noncompliance with or liability under any Environmental Laws
     applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries or the operations; of any
     Contract Grower (whether or not such noncompliance constitutes a violation
     of the Company's other covenants set forth in this paragraph SJ) or any
     orders, requirements or demands of any Governmental Authority related
     thereto, including, with limitation, reasonable attorney's and consultants'
     fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response costs, court cost.-3 and
     litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing
     directly result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
     party seeking indemnification therefor.

     5K.  Maintenance of Books and Records.  The Company, will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to,: (i) keep proper records and books of account with respect
to its business activities in which proper entries are made in the ordinary
course of all dealings or transactions of or in relation to its business and
affairs; (ii) set up on its books adequate reserves with respect to all Taxes,
assessments, charges, levies and claims; and (iii) set up on its books reserves
against doubtful accounts receivable, advances and all other proper reserves
(including reserves for depreciation, obsolescence or amortization of its
property).  All determinations Pursuant to this paragraph SK shall be made in
accordance with, or as required by, GAAP in order to fairly reflect all of the
Consolidated Group's financial transactions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company and its Subsidiaries may make adjustments and changes in the manner in
which their books and records are kept, provided, that:

               (a)  all such adjustments and changes shall be required or
          permitted by GAAP, but need not conform with the prior accounting
          practice of the Company or such Subsidiary or its predecessor;

               (b)  each Holder shall be given written notice of all such
          changes or adjustments together with the financial statements required
          by paragraph 6A(i) for the quarter in which such change occurred, and
          together with the financial statements required by paragraph 5A(ii), a
          year-end listing and description of all such changes and adjustments
          and the effect: thereof by the chief financial officer of the Company;

               (c)  the financial covenants and ratios set forth in paragraph 6A
          shall continue to be calculated without regard to such adjustments or
          changes unless and until the Required Holders have consented thereto;
          and

               (d)  the Company may not change its Fiscal Year unless and until
          the Required Holders have consented thereto.

     5L.  Subsidiary Guaranties.  The Company will cause each Subsidiary
hereafter existing to guaranty the obligations of the Company hereunder and
under the Notes by executing and delivering to each Holder contemporaneously
with the organization or acquisition of such Subsidiary, a Guaranty in the form
of Exhibit C (such Guaranties, the "Subsidiary Guaranties")

                                       17
<PAGE>

accompanied by copies of the organizational documents of such Subsidiary and
corporate resolutions (or equivalent) authorizing such transaction, in each case
certified as true and correct by an appropriate officer of such Subsidiary and
such opinions of counsel with respect thereto as the Required Holders reasonably
request.

     5M.  Year 2000 Compatibility.  The Company will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, take all action necessary to assure that its computer-based
systems, hardware and software are able to operate and effectively receive,
transmit, process, store, retrieve or retransmit data including dates on and
after January 1, 2000 without any Material Adverse Effect, and, at the request
of the Required Holders, the Company shall provide evidence to the satisfaction
of the Required Holders of such year 2000 compatibility.

     5N.  Post-Closing Amendments to Farm Credit Security Documents.  Within 30
days following the Closing, the Company shall provide the Holders with evidence
satisfactory to them that the Security Agreement dated February __, 1996 by the
Company and Farm Credit and each mortgage and deed of trust in effect as of the
Closing by the Company in favor of Farm Credit (collectively the "Farm Credit
Security Documents") has been amended to provide that the collateral granted
under such Security Documents secures only the obligations of the Company under
the "First Term Loan Note" issued and outstanding under the Farm Credit
Agreement and such amendments have been recorded in such jurisdictions as may be
required to give full effect thereto.

6.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

     6A.    Financial Covenants.  The Company shall not permit:

     6A(l). Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Total Capitalization.  As of the
last day of any fiscal quarter, Consolidated Debt to be more than the percentage
of Consolidated Total Capitalization set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Date of Determination                         Percentage
                   ---------------------                         ----------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Closing Date through 70% including the                                70%
third fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fourth fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 1999                             75%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

First fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2000                              70%
through and including the fourth fiscal
quarter of Fiscal Year 2000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

First fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2001                              60%
through and including the fourth fiscal
quarter of Fiscal Year 2001
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any fiscal quarter thereafter                                         50%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       18
<PAGE>

     6A(2). Current Ratio.  At any time, the ratio of Consolidated Current
Assets to Consolidated Current Liabilities to be less than 2.75 to 1.00.

     6A(3). Working Capital.  At any time, Working Capital to be less than
$75,000,000.

     6A(4). Limitation on Consolidated Total Liabilities.  As of-the last day
of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of Consolidated Total Liabilities to
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth to be more than the ratio set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Date of Determination                           Ratio
                   ---------------------                           -----
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Closing Date through and including the                        2.50 to 1.00
fourth fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

First fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2000                      2.25 to 1.00
through and including the third fiscal
quarter of Fiscal Year 2000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fourth fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year                      2.10 to 1.00
2000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2001                  1.60 to 1.00
through and including the fourth fiscal
quarter of Fiscal Year 2001
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any fiscal quarter thereafter                                 1.50 to 1.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     6A(5). Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.  As of any Fiscal Year end,
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth to be less than the sum of (i) $157,190,000
minus (ii) the amount of Consolidated Net Losses for the Company's Fiscal Year
1999, if any, plus (iii) if a positive number, 50% of Consolidated Net Earnings
for Fiscal Year 2000 and each Fiscal Year thereafter.

     6B.    Liens and Other Restrictions.  The Company will not, and will not
permit any Subsidiary to:

     6B(l). Liens.  Create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on its
properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or upon any
income or profits therefrom or proceeds of dispositions thereof, or transfer any
property for the purpose of subjecting the same to the payment of obligations in
priority to the payment of its general creditors, except for:

          (i)    Liens on property acquired, constructed or improved after the
     Closing Date; provided, however, that (a) each such Lien is confined solely
     to the property so acquired, improvements thereto and proceeds thereof, (b)
     each such Lien secures only the purchase price for, or cost of construction
     or improvements of, such property and the Debt secured by such Lien does
     not exceed the lesser of the fair market value or the

                                       19
<PAGE>

     purchase price or cost of construction or improvement, (c) the Debt secured
     by such Lien is incurred at the time of the acquisition, construction or
     improvement or within 120 days following such date, (d) no Event of Default
     or Default exists immediately before or immediately after the creation of
     such Lien or could reasonably be anticipated to result therefrom, (e) after
     giving effect thereto, the tests set forth in paragraphs 6A, calculated on
     the basis of-the most recently available financial information, would be
     satisfied on a pro forma basis, and (f) in no event shall the aggregate
     amount of all outstanding Debt secured by Liens permitted by this paragraph
     6B(l)(i) at, any time exceed $25,000,000;

          (ii)   Liens existing as of the Closing Date of this Agreement and
     described on Schedule 6B(l) provided, in the case of Liens under the Farm
     Credit Security Documents, such Liens are amended within 30 days of the
     Closing Date as provided in paragraph 5N;

          (iii)  any Lien resulting from renewing, extending or refinancing of
     the Debt secured by the Liens permitted by clauses (i) and (ii) above,
     provided that (a) the maturity thereof is not accelerated and the principal
     amount of the Debt then secured thereby is not increased, (b) such Lien
     does not extend to any other property, and (c) immediately after such
     extension, renewal or refunding, no Default or Event of Default would exist
     or would be reasonably anticipated to result therefrom;

          (iv)   Liens, and other charges incidental to the conduct of its
     business, or the ownership of its property (including charges for Taxes or
     Otherwise arising by operation of law, mechanics', carriers', workers',
     repairmen's, warehousers' or other similar Liens), which are not incurred
     in connection with the borrowing of money or the securing of Debt, provided
     that, in each case, the obligation secured is not overdue or is being
     contested in good faith by appropriate actions or procedures promptly
     instituted and diligently conducted and such reserves as shall be required
     by GAAP shall have been made therefor and such Liens and charges in the
     aggregate do not have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (v)    Liens arising as a result of any judicial proceeding with
     respect to which it shall then, in good faith be actively prosecuting
     appeal or other appropriate proceedings for review and Liens arising from
     judgments or decrees not constituting a Default or Event of Default unless,
     in either case, such Lien remains undischarged, unstayed pending appeal,
     unbonded or undismissed for a period of 60 consecutive days and provided,
     in either case, such reserves as shall be required by GAAP shall have been
     made therefor and such Liens in the aggregate do not have a Material
     Adverse Effect;

          (vi)   deposits or pledges to secure worker's compensation,
     unemployment insurance, old age benefits or other social security
     obligations or retirement benefits;

          (vii)  Liens arising out of deposits in connection with, or given to
     secure the performance of, bids, tenders, trade contracts not for the
     payment of money, or leases, or to secure statutory obligations or surety
     or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other pledges or deposits for
     purposes of like nature in the ordinary course of business;

                                       20
<PAGE>

          (viii) survey exceptions or encumbrances, easements or reservations,
     or rights of others for rights-of-way, utilities and other similar
     purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties,
     which are necessary for the conduct of its activities or which customarily
     exist on properties of Persons engaged in similar activities and similarly
     situated and which do not in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect
     or materially interfere with the use of such real properties in the
     operation of the business of the Consolidated Group in the ordinary course;
     and

          (ix)   Liens securing Debt under the Revolving Credit Agreement and/or
     the New Farm Credit Term Loan provided the obligations of the Company and
     its Subsidiaries under the Transaction Documents are equally and ratably
     secured thereby.

     6B(2). Sales of Equity Interests.

          (i)    The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to issue, sell or
     otherwise dispose of, or part with control of, any of such Subsidiary's own
     Equity Interest  (other than directors' qualifying shares) either directly
     or indirectly by the issuance of rights, options for securities convertible
     into or exchangeable for Equity Interests other than to the Company or a
     Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

          (ii)   The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to,
     sell transfer or otherwise dispose of any outstanding Equity Interest of
     another Subsidiary other than: (a) to the Company or a Wholly-Owned
     Subsidiary; or (b)(1) if in connection with such sale, transfer or other
     disposition, the entire Investment (whether represented by Equity Interest,
     Debt, claims or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries in such
     Subsidiary is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to a Person not a
     Related Party, and the Subsidiary being disposed of has no continuing
     Investment in any other Subsidiary not being simultaneously disposed of or
     in the Company and (2) such disposition is otherwise permitted under
     paragraph 6B(3).

          (iii)  The Company will not issue any Redeemable Preferred Stock or
     any Equity Interest convertible or exchangeable into Debt of the Company.

     6B(3)  Merger and Sale of Assets. Merge or consolidate with any other
Person or sell, lease or transfer or otherwise dispose of its respective assets
to any Person or Persons, except that:

          (i)    Any Subsidiary of the Company may merge or consolidate with or
     sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any of its assets to
     the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company provided, (a) that
                                                             --------
     the Company or such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or
     surviving corporation and (b) the acquiring or surviving entity is a
     corporation organized under the laws of, and having its principal place of
     business in, a state of the United States of America or -the District of
     Columbia;

          (ii)   the Company may merge or consolidate with any other Person,
     provided, that (a) the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
     corporation, and (b)

                                       21
<PAGE>

     immediately after and giving effect thereto, the Company would be able to
     incur $1 of additional Debt and on a pro forma basis based on the most
     recently available financial information, the financial tests set forth in
     paragraph 6A(4) would be satisfied;

          (iii)  the Company and its Subsidiaries may sell inventory and
     obsolete equipment in the ordinary course of business;

          (iv)   the Company may sell or cause Grower Loans to be refinanced in
     the ordinary course of its business provided, any Guaranties entered into
                                         --------
     in connection with any such sale or refinancing are permitted pursuant to
     paragraph 6(C)(iii);

          (v)    the Company and its Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or
     otherwise dispose of same or all of their respective properties or assets
     in a transaction not otherwise permitted pursuant to this paragraph 6B(3)
     (a "Disposition") if: (i) the Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may
     be) receives consideration at the time of such Disposition at least equal
     to the fair market value of the assets or properties issued or sold or
     otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 85% of the consideration therefor
     received by the Company or such Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash
     Equivalents; provided, (A) that immediately after and giving effect to any
                  --------
     such Disposition, (1) the greater of (x) aggregate book value, as reflected
     on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Group
     furnished to the Holders pursuant to paragraph 6A(i) or SA(ii), as the case
     may be or (y) the aggregate net proceeds (with any non-cash proceeds being
     valued at its fair market value) of all such properties and assets so sold
     by the Company and its Subsidiaries ("Assets Sold") during the then current
     Fiscal Year, less the aggregate amount of Qualifying Reinvestments then
     made by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the Fiscal Year does not
     exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets Fiscal Year end, and (2) the
     greater of (x) aggregate book value of all Assets Sold since the Closing
     Date, as reflected on the consolidated balance sheets of the Consolidated
     Group for the year of Disposition -furnished to the Holders pursuant to
     paragraph SA(ii) (or paragraph 5A(i) if none have yet been provided
     pursuant to paragraph 5A(ii), and (y) the aggregate net proceeds (with any
     non-cash proceeds being valued at its fair market value of all such Assets
     Sold since the Closing Date, less the aggregate amount of Qualifying
     Reinvestments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries since the Closing
     Date does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Assets, for the immediately
     preceding Fiscal Year end, and (B) in the case of a Disposition of the
     Equity Interest of a Subsidiary, such Disposition otherwise complies with
     paragraph 13B(2);

provided, further, that, in each case other than the sales pursuant to
--------
subparagraph (iii) or (iv) above, no Default or Event of Default exists
immediately before or immediately after giving effect to such Disposition or
such merger or consolidation or is expected to result therefrom.

     For purposes of subparagraph (v) of this paragraph 6B(3), a "Qualifying
Reinvestment" is the use of the proceeds, or of funds expended in anticipation
of the proceeds, of Assets Sold not more than 90 days prior to or more than 180
days after the date of a Disposition, to purchase (x) tangible, depreciable
assets or equipment or real property or depreciable improvements thereon usable
in any business permitted by paragraph 6E, or (y) either (1) all of the
outstanding

                                       22
<PAGE>

Equity Interests of a Person which, immediately after such purchase, is a
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company and is engaged in a business permitted by
paragraph 6E, or (2) all or substantially all of the assets and business of a
Person which is engaged in a business permitted by paragraph 6E; provided, that
                                                                 --------
if the Assets Sold are subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders at the time of
sale or other disposition, the assets, equipment, real property, improvements,
capital stock or other equity interests purchased with the proceeds of such
Assets Sold shall not constitute Qualifying Reinvestments unless promptly made
subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders with the same priority and otherwise
substantially the same terms and conditions as the Liens on the Assets Sold in
favor of the Notes.

     6B(4). Subsidiary Dividend and Other Restrictions.  Enter into, or be
otherwise subject to, any contract or, agreement (including its charter) which
limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the payment of,
dividends by, or distributions on any securities of, any Subsidiary to the
Company.

     6B(5). Transactions with Related Parties. Except as set forth on Schedule
6B(5), directly or indirectly, engage in any transaction or group of
transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale or exchange of
assets or the payment of salary, bonuses and other compensation for services
rendered) with any Related Party, except in the ordinary course of business
pursuant to the reasonable requirements of its business and upon commercially
reasonable terms which are no less favorable to it than those which might be
obtained at arms' length with a Person not a Related Party.

     6B(6). Restricted Payments.  Make or- declare any Restricted Payments
except for:

          (i)    dividends by the Company on its common stock; provided, that
     (a) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or
     immediately after such payment or could reasonably be anticipated to result
     therefrom; (b) after giving effect to such payment, the financial tests set
     forth in paragraph 6A, calculated on the basis of the most recently
     available financial information, would be satisfied on a pro forma basis,
     and (c) immediately after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of
     all such dividends made or declared by the Consolidated Group in the
     current Fiscal Year does not exceed 50% of Consolidated Net Earnings (if
     positive) for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year; and

          (ii)   Permitted Tax Distributions.

     6B(7). Loans, Advances and Investments.  Make or permit to remain
outstanding any loan or advance to, or extension of credit to, or own, purchase
or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any, other interest
(including without limitation any Equity Interest in any partnership,
association, joint venture or other organization, whether or not a legal entity)
in, or make any capital contribution to, any Person (each an "Investment'),
except that the Company or any Subsidiary may:

          (i)    acquire and own stock, obligations or securities received in
     settlement of debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to
     it, provided, that, any such

                                       23
<PAGE>

     stock is of a class publicly traded on a national securities exchange and
     after any such acquisition, the aggregate amount of all such stock owned by
     the Consolidated Group represents less than 5% of the equity interest or
     the voting rights in the issuer of such stock;

          (ii)   own, purchase or acquire Cash Equivalents;

          (iii)  endorse negotiable instruments for collection and own its
     accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business;

          (iv)   make, in the case of the Company, Investments in the ordinary
     course of business in any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and, in the case of its
     Subsidiaries, Investments in the ordinary course of business in the Company
     or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

          (v)    permit to remain outstanding, Investments existing as of the
     Closing Date and listed on Schedule 6B(7)(1) (excluding Related Party
     Advances);

          (vi)   make additional Grower Loans (other than to a Related Party) or
     convert Grower Advances into Grower Loans (other than Grower Advances to
     Related Parties) in the ordinary course of business after the Closing Date
     provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Grower Loans to Persons
     other than Related Parties outstanding in any Fiscal Year (including
     principal outstanding under such Grower Loans permitted to be outstanding
     pursuant to clause (v) of this paragraph 6B(7) and Grower Advances
     converted into such Grower Loans) does not exceed an amount equal to
     twenty-five (25%) of Consolidated Net Worth for the immediately preceding
     Fiscal Year; (ii) no new Grower Loans may be made at any time when more
     than $1 0,000,000 in the aggregate of outstanding Grower Loans (including
     any Grower Loans sold or refinanced by the Company and Guaranteed by the
     Company) are non-performing as reasonably determined by the Company (but in
     any event, any Grower Loan that is more than 90 days past due (whether in
     respect of principal or interest) shall be deemed non-performing;

          (vii)  extend credit to Contract Growers in the ordinary course of
     business pursuant to the reasonable requirements of their business and upon
     commercially reasonable terms for the purchase of supplies and incidental
     related equipment ("Grower Advances"); provided, that each such Grower
     Advance is repaid within 180 days after the making of such Grower Advance
     or converted into a Grower Loan;

          (viii) subject to compliance with Paragraph 6B(5), make and/or permit
     to remain outstanding Related Party Advances (including any Grower Advance
     to a Related Party which has not been repaid within 180 days after the
     making of such Grower, Advance and any Grower Loan to a Related Party)
     provided, (a) the aggregate amount of such Related Part)(Advances permitted
     pursuant to this clause (viii) at any time outstanding shall not exceed
     $13,000,000 through March 2, 2002 and thereafter, shall not exceed
     $15,000,000; (b) the aggregate amount of Related Party Advances permitted

                                       24
<PAGE>

     pursuant to this clause (viii) at any time outstanding to Duplin Land shall
     not exceed $2,500,000; (c) all Related Party Advances existing on the
     Closing Date which are to be deemed permitted under this clause (viii) are
     set forth on Schedule 6B(7)(2); and (d) all Related Party Advances arising
     after the Closing Date, which are to be deemed permitted under this clause
     (viii) shall be set forth on an updated Schedule 6B(7)(2) to be supplied
     by, the Company from time to time upon request by the Required Holders;

          (ix)   Subject to compliance with paragraph 6B(S), permit to remain
     outstanding Related Party Advances to Duplin Land existing as of the
     Closing Date and listed on Schedule 6B(7)(3) and make additional Related
     Party Advances to, Duplin Land not otherwise permitted pursuant to clause
     (viii) of this paragraph 6B(7), provided (a) the aggregate amount of such
                                     --------
     additional Related Party Advances made from and after the Closing Date
     through March 2, 2002 shall not exceed $6,000,000 in original amount and
     thereafter, the aggregate amount of such additional Related Party, advances
     made from and after the Closing Date shall not exceed $9,000,000 in
     original amount; and (b) all Related Party Advances made to Duplin Land
     after the Closing Date which are to be deemed permitted under this clause
     (ix) shall be set forth on an updated Schedule 6B(7)(3) to be supplied by
     the Company from time to time upon request by the Required Holders;
     provided, further in no event shall any amount prepaid, paid or repaid in
     --------  -------
     respect of any Related Party Advances to Duplin Land permitted under this
     clause (ix) be reloaned or readvanced to Duplin Land unless such amounts
     could be loaned or advanced to Duplin Land under clause  (vii) of this
     Paragraph 6B(7) or as a new loan or advance under this clause (ix); and

          (x)    Investments not otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (i)
     through (ix) of this paragraph 6B(7), provided the aggregate amount of such
     Investments, made in any twelve consecutive months does not exceed
     $500,000.

     6C.  Debt; Guaranties of Debt.

          (i)    The Company will not issue any Redeemable Preferred Stock or
     any Equity Interest convertible or exchangeable into Debt of the Company or
     any Subsidiary nor will the Company create, incur or assume any Debt after
     the Closing Date unless immediately before and immediately after giving
     effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or be reasonably
     expected to result therefrom and on a pro forma basis, the financial
     covenants set forth in paragraph SA would be satisfied.

          (ii)   Except as permitted by clause (iii) of' this paragraph 6C, the
     Company will not permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or
     otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to
     any Debt or issue or permit the issuance of any Preferred Stock
     constituting Debt or any Equity Interest convertible or exchangeable into
     Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary.

          (iii)  The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to,
     enter into any Guaranty of or otherwise become liable for any Debt of any
     other Person other than (but subject to compliance with clause (i) of this
     paragraph 6C) (a) Debt of the Company

                                       25
<PAGE>

     or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company, (b) the Subsidiary
     Guaranties, and (c) in the case of the Company, Guaranties of Growers Loans
     provided the aggregate amount of Debt represented by such Guaranties
     (calculated without regard to the exclusion in clause (viii) of the
     definition of Debt) does not exceed $15,000,000.

     6D.  Compliance with ERISA.  The Company will not and will not permit any
ERISA Affiliate to:

          (i)    engage in any transaction in connection with which the Company
     or any ERISA Affiliate could be subject to either a civil penalty assessed
     pursuant to section 5(:12(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by section 4975 of
     the Code, terminate or withdraw from any Plan (other than a Multiemployer
     Plan) in a manner, or take any other action with respect to any such Plan
     (including, without limitation, a substantial cessation of business
     operations or an amendment of a Plan within the meaning of section 4041 (e)
     of ERISA, which could result in any liability to the PBGC, to a Plan, to a
     Plan participant, to the Department of Labor or to a trustee appointed
     under section 4042(b) or (c) of ERISA), incur any liability to the PBGC or
     a Plan on account of a withdrawal from or a termination of a Plan under
     section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, incur any liability for post-retirement
     benefits under any and all welfare benefit plans (as defined in section
     3(l) of ERISA), fail to make full payment when due of all amounts which,
     under the provisions of any Plan or applicable law, it is required to pay
     as contributions thereto, or permit to exist any accumulated funding
     deficiency, Whether or not waived, with respect to any Plan (other than a
     Multiemployer Plan) other than such penalties, taxes, liabilities, failures
     or deficiencies which individually and in the aggregate do not, and are not
     reasonably expected to have in the future, a Material Adverse Effect;

          (ii)   act any time permit the termination of any defined benefit
     pension plan intended to be qualified under section 401 (a) and section 501
     (a) of the Code unless such plan is funded so that the value of all benefit
     liabilities upon the termination date does not exceed the then current
     value of all assets in such plan by an amount the payment of which would
     have a Material Adverse Effect; or

          (iii)  at any time permit the aggregate complete or partial withdrawal
     liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to Multiemployer Plans
     incurred by the Consolidated Group and any ERISA Affiliate, or the
     aggregate liability under Title IV of EIRISA incurred by the Consolidated
     Group and any ERISA Affiliate, to exceed an amount the payment of which
     would have a Material Adverse Effect.

For the purposes c)f subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph 6D, the amount of the
withdrawal liability if the Consolidated Group and ER,ISA Affiliates at any date
shall be the aggregate present value of the amounts claimed, to have been
incurred less any portion thereof as to which the Company reasonably believes,
after appropriate consideration of possible adjustments arising under subtitle E
of Title IV of ERISA, that neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate shall
have any liability, provided, that the Company shall promptly obtain written
advice from independent actuarial consultants supporting such determination.
The Company will (x) once in each calendar year, beginning in 1999, request and
obtain a current statement of withdrawal

                                       26
<PAGE>

liability from each Multiemployer Plan to which it or any ERISA Affiliate is or
has been obligated to contribute and (y) transmit a copy of such statement Ito
each Holder, within 15 days after the Company, receives the same. As used in
this paragraph 6D, the term "accumulated funding deficiency" has the meaning
specified in section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code, the terms
"present value" and "current value" have the meanings specified in section 3 of
ERISA, the term "benefit liabilities" has the meaning specified in section
4001(a)(16) of ERISA and the term "amount of unfunded liabilities" has the
meaning specified in section 4001(18) of ERISA.

     6E.  Line of Business.  The Company will riot, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than the animal livestock industry
and other businesses reasonably related thereto.

7.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

     7A.  Events of Default.  If any of the following events shall occur or
conditions shall exist and be Continuing for any reason whatsoever, and whether
such occurrence or condition shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or
be effected by operation of law or otherwise such occurrence or condition and
continuance shall constitute an "Event of Default":

          (i)    the Company defaults in the payment of any principal of any
     Note when the same shall become due and payable, whether by the terms
     thereof or otherwise as provided by the terms of this Agreement; or

          (ii)   the Company defaults in the payment of interest or Make Whole
     Amount on any Note, whether by the terms thereof or otherwise as provided
     by the terms of the Agreement and such default shall continue for 3
     Business Days after the same shall become due and payable; or

          (iii)  The Company or any Subsidiary (a) defaults (whether as primary
     obligor or guarantor or surety) in any payment of principal of, premium, if
     any, or interest on any Debt, the outstanding principal amount of which
     exceeds $1,000,000 in the aggregate, beyond any period of grace provided
     with respect thereto, or (b) fails to perform or observe any other
     agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which such
     Debt is created (or if any other event thereunder or under any such
     agreement shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such default or
     other event is to cause such Debt to become, or to cause the holder or
     holders of such Debt (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to
     declare such Debt to be, due and payable or required to be redeemed or
     repurchased prior to any stated maturity or regularly scheduled dates of
     payment, or (c) as a consequence of the occurrence or continuation of any
     event or condition (other than the passage of time or the right of the
     holder of Debt to Convert such Debt into equity, interests), the Company or
     any Subsidiary has, become obligated to purchase or repay or redeem an
     aggregate outstanding principal amount of $1,000,000 or more of Debt before
     its regular maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment or
     redemption;

                                       27
<PAGE>

          (iv)   any, representation or warranty made by the Company or any
     Subsidiary in any Transaction Document or in any writing furnished pursuant
     to a Transaction Document shall be false, incorrect or misleading in any
     material respect; or

          (v)    the Company or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe or
     comply with any covenant contained in paragraph 5D, 5I, SN, 6A(2), 6A(3),
     6A(5), 6B, 6C or 6F; or

          (vi)   the Company fails to perform or observe or comply with any
     covenant contained in paragraph 6A(1) or 6A(4) as of the fourth fiscal
     quarter of any Fiscal Year or fails to comply with any covenant contained
     in paragraph 6A(1) or 6A(4) as of the first through the third fiscal
     quarter of any Fiscal Year and such failure shall not have been remedied by
     the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of such Fiscal Year; or

          (vii)  the Company or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe or
     comply with any other agreement, term or condition of any of the
     Transaction Documents and such failure shall not be remedied within 30 days
     of such failure; or

          (viii) the Company or any Subsidiary voluntarily or involuntarily
     suspends or discontinues operation or liquidates all or substantially all
     of its assets (other than, in the case of a Subsidiary, as permitted by
     paragraph 6B(3)); or

          (ix)   the Company or any Subsidiary admits in writing that it is not
     able to pay its debts as such debts become due or otherwise becomes
     insolvent; or files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing
     against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or
     any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation (or to take advantage of
     any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction; or makes an
     assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or consents to the appointment
     of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with
     respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property; or
     takes corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing; or

          (x)    a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any
     other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
     the Company or any Subsidiary or for the appointment of a custodian,
     receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it
     or, with respect to any substantial part of its property to take advantage
     of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction is filed against
     the Company or any Subsidiary without its consent or other acquiescence and
     such petition is not dismissed within 60 days or any holder of a Lien on
     all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary
     take any action to foreclose on such Lien and such action remains unstayed
     and in effect for 60 days; or

          (xi)   a Governmental Authority enters an order appointing a
     custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with
     respect to the Company or any Subsidiary or with respect to any substantial
     part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a
     petition for relief or reorganization or any other petition in bankruptcy
     or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law
     of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation
     of the Company or

                                       28
<PAGE>

     any Subsidiary without its consent of and such order remains unstayed and
     in effect for 60 days; or

          (xii)   a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money
     aggregating in excess of $5,000,000 is rendered against one or more of the
     Company or any Subsidiary and within 45 days the entry thereof such
     judgment or judgments are not bonded or discharged or execution thereof
     stayed pending appeal, or within 45 days after the expiration of any such
     stay, such judgment or judgments are not discharged; or

          (xiii)  (a) any Subsidiary Guaranty shall cease to be in full force
     and effect or shall be declared by a court or other Governmental Authority
     of competent jurisdiction to be void, voidable or unenforceable against
     such Subsidiary or (b) the validity or enforceability of any Subsidiary
     Guaranty against such Subsidiary shall be contested by such Subsidiary, the
     Company or any Related Party, or (c) any Subsidiary, the Company or any
     Related Party shall deny that such Subsidiary has any further liability or
     obligation under its Subsidiary Guaranty.

     7B.  Acceleration on Event of Default.

          (i)     Automatic.  If any Event of Default specified in clauses (ix),
     (x) or (xi) of paragraph 7A shall exist, all of the Notes at the time
     outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable together
     with interest accrued thereon and the Make Whole Amount without
     presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
     expressly waived.

          (ii)    By Action of Holders.  Subject to paragraph 7C, if any Event
     of Default other than those specified in clauses (ix), (x) or (xi) of
     paragraph 7A shall exist, the Required Holders may exercise any right,
     power or remedy permitted to, such Holder or Holders by law, and shall
     have, in particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
     right, upon written notice to the Company to declare the entire principal
     of, and all interest accrued and Make Whole Amount on, all the Notes then
     outstanding to be immediately due and payable, without any presentiment,
     demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
     expressly waived.

          (iii)   Acceleration on Payment Default.  During the existence of an
     Event of Default described in clauses (i) or (ii) of paragraph 7A and
     irrespective of whether the Notes then outstanding shall have become due
     and payable pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph 7B, any Holder who or
     which shall have not consented to any waiver with respect to such Event of
     Default may, at its option, by notice in writing to, the Company, declare
     the Notes then held by such Holder to be, and such Notes shall thereupon
     become, forthwith due and payable together with all interest accrued
     thereon and the Make Whole Amount thereon, without any presentment, demand,
     protest or other notice of any kind, all of which ;are hereby expressly
     waived.

     7C.  Rescission of Acceleration.  At any time after any Note shall have
been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of
paragraph 7B, the Holders of at

                                       29
<PAGE>

least two-thirds of the principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding may,
by written notice to the Company, rescind and annul any such declaration with
respect to the Notes if (i) the Company shall have paid all interest, principal
and Make Whole Amount payable with respect to any Note which have become due
otherwise than by reason of such declaration, including any interest on any such
overdue interest, principal and Make Whole Amount, at the amount specified
therein or otherwise in this Agreement, (ii) the Company shall not have paid any
amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (iii) all
Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts which have
become due solely by reason of such declaration, shall have been cured or waived
pursuant to paragraph I 1 B, and (iv) no judgment or decree shall have been
entered for the payment of any amounts due pursuant to the Transaction Documents
solely by reason of such declaration. No such rescission or annulment shall
extend to or affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default or impair any
right arising therefrom.

     7D.  Notice of Acceleration or Rescission.  Whenever any Note shall be
declared immediately due and payable pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of
paragraph 7B, or any such declaration shall be rescinded a-id annulled pursuant
to paragraph 7C, the Company shall forthwith give written notice thereof to each
other Holder at the time outstanding, provided, the failure to give such notice
shall not affect the validity of any such declaration, recision or annulment.

     7E.  Other Remedies, No Waivers or Election of Remedies.  If any one or
more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, irrespective of whether
any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable, any
Holder may proceed to protect and enforce its rights under the Transaction
Documents by exercising such remedies as are available to such Holder in respect
thereof under applicable law, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by
any other appropriate proceeding, whether for specific performance of any
covenant or other agreement contained in any Transaction Document or in aid of
the exercise of any power granted in a Transaction Document, in such order as
the Holder may determine in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the
maturity of a Holder's Notes may be accelerated only in accordance with
paragraph 7B.  No remedy conferred in a Transaction  Document upon any Holder is
intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy
shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy conferred
herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or
otherwise.  No course of dealing or failure or delay by any Holder in exercising
any right, power or remedy under a Transaction Document or any other document
executed in connection therewith shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise
prejudice such Holder's rights, powers or remedies, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right or remedy preclude any other right or remedy
hereunder or thereunder.

8.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  The Company represents and warrants that:

     8A.  Organization, Etc.

          (i) It is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
     standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and is
     qualified and in good standing

                                       30
<PAGE>

     in each jurisdiction in which it is required to be qualified to do business
     (other than those jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified,
     individually and in aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect) and has all requisite corporate and other power
     and authority to own, operate and lease its property and to carry on its
     business as now being conducted and which it proposes to conduct. It has
     all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each
     Transaction Document to which it is a party and to issue and sell the
     Notes. Schedule 8A identifies the Company's correct legal name, the
     jurisdiction of organization, the jurisdictions in which qualified to do
     business and its officers and directors.

          (ii)   Each Transaction Document has been duly authorized by all
     necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and has been (or will
     have been as of the Closing Date) duly executed and delivered by authorized
     officers of the Company and constitutes (or will constitute upon execution
     thereof by the Company) the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
     Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
     except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
     reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles (whether
     considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

     8B.  Stock Ownership.

          (i)    The authorized capital stock, or other Equity Interests, of the
     Company is as described on Schedule 8B.  All of the outstanding capital
     stock, or other Equity Interests, of the Company is validly issued, fully
     paid and non- assessable and is now owned and will be owned immediately
     prior to the Closing, of record and beneficially, in the amounts and by the
     Persons as set forth in Schedule 8B free and clear of any Lien of any kind.

          (ii)   As of the Closing Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries.

          (iii)  Except as set forth in Schedule 8B, the Company does not have
     any outstanding rights, options, warrants or other agreements which would
     require it to issue any additional shares of its capital stock or other
     Equity Interests after the Closing Date.

     8C.  Financial Statements.  The Company has furnished the Purchasers its
audited balance sheets dated as of November 1, 1997 and October 31, 1998 and the
related statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the 12 months
ended on such dales (the "Audited Financial Statements") and the unaudited
balance sheet of the Company as of January 30, 1999 and the related statement of
income, retained earnings and cash flows for the 3 months ended on such date
(the "Unaudited Financial Statement" and collectively with the Audited Financial
Statements, the "Financial Statements").  'The Audited Financial Statements
fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the respective periods
specified thereby and the Unaudited Financial Statement fairly presents in all
material respects the assets and liabilities of the Company as of the date
thereof.  The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP,
consistently

                                       31
<PAGE>

applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes
thereto. Except as disclosed in the Unaudited Financial Statement, since October
31, 1998, there have been no developments or changes affecting the business,
assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company which in
the aggregate have had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect.

     8D.  Actions Pending.  There are no actions, suits, investigations or
proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened, against the
Company, or any of its properties or rights, by or before any court, arbitrator
or administrative body or other Governmental Authority other than those which in
the aggregate do not and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     8E.  Title to Properties.

          (i)    The Company has good and marketable title to the real estate of
     which it is the record owner and good title to all of its other properties
     and assets, including the properties and assets reflected in the most
     recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements or purported to
     have been acquired by the Company sifter such date (other than properties
     and assets disposed of since such date in the ordinary course of business),
     subject to no Lien of any kind except Liens permitted by paragraph 6B(i).

          (ii)   The Company enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under
     all leases necessary in any material respect for the conduct of its
     businesses and all such leases are valid and subsisting and are in full
     force and effect;

          (iii)  The Company owns or has the right to use (under agreements or
     licenses which are in full force and effect) all Intellectual Property
     necessary for it to conduct its business as currently conducted, without
     any known conflict with the rights of others.  To the knowledge of the
     Company, none of its products infringes in any material respect upon any
     Intellectual Property owned by any other Person; and

          (iv)   To the knowledge of the Company, there is no material violation
     by any Person of any right of the Company with respect to any Intellectual
     Property owned or used by the Company.

     8F.  Affiliates and Investments in Others.  Except as set forth on Schedule
8F, the Company has no Affiliates nor Investments in any Person other than
Investments permitted under paragraph 6B(7).

     8G.  Tax Returns and Payments.  The Company has filed all Federal, State,
local and foreign income tax returns, franchise tax returns, real and personal
property tax returns and other tax returns required by law to be filed by or on
its behalf, or with respect to its properties or assets, and all Taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon the Company or any of
its properties, assets, income or franchises which Eire due and payable have
been paid, other than those presently payable without penalty or interest, those
presently being actively contested in good faith and for which such reserves or
other appropriate provisions, if any, as

                                       32
<PAGE>

may be required by GAAP have been made and those, the non-payment or non-filing
of which, in the aggregate, do not, and could not reasonably be expected to,
have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books
of the Company in respect of any Taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate and
the Company knows of no unpaid assessment for additional Taxes for any period or
any basis for any such assessment that in the aggregate could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No charges or Taxes will be imposed
by any Governmental Authority on the Company on the execution or delivery of the
Transaction Documents and the issue and sale of the Notes.

     8H.  Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters.

          (i)    The Company is not in violation of any term of its charter or
     by-laws or other organizational documents, or in violation or breach of any
     term of any agreement (including any agreement with stockholders),
     instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation
     (including any Environmental Law) to which it is a party or to which it is
     subject other than defaults or violations, in which in the aggregate, do
     not have and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
     Effect.

          (ii)   The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the
     offering, issuance and sale of 'the Notes and fulfillment of and compliance
     with the terms and provisions of the Transaction Documents do not and will
     not conflict with the provisions of, or constitute a default under, or
     result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any
     of the properties or assets of the Company pursuant to its charter or by-
     laws or other organizational documents, any award of any arbitrator or any
     agreement (including any agreement with stockholders or other equity
     holders), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or
     regulation to which it is subject.

          (iii)  Other than this Agreement and the Bank Agreements, the company
     is not a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any
     instrument evidencing Debt, any agreement relating thereto or any other
     contract or agreement (including its charter) which limits the amount of,
     or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Debt by the Company
     or its Subsidiaries.

     8I.  Offering of Notes.  Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its
behalf has, directly or indirectly, offered the Notes for sale to, or solicited
any offers to buy any of the Notes from, or otherwise approached or negotiated
with respect thereto with, any Person other than the Purchasers, each of which
has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment.  Neither the
Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action
which would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the provisions of
Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the registration provisions of any
securities or Blue Sky law of any applicable jurisdiction.  As of the Closing
Date, the Notes will not be of the same class as securities of the Company
listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the
Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system, within
the meaning of Rule 144A.

     8J.  Regulation U, Etc.  The Company does not own or have any present
intention of acquiring any "margin stock" as defined in Regulation U (12 CFR
Part 221) of the Board of

                                       33
<PAGE>

Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("margin stock"). None of the proceeds
of this sale of the Notes will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose,
whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any margin
stock or for the purpose of maintaining, reducing or retiring any indebtedness
which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any stock that is currently a
margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute tons transaction a
"purpose credit" within the meaning of such Regulation U. Neither the Company
nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which might
cause this Agreement or the Notes to violate Regulation T, Regulation U,
Regulation X or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or
hereafter in effect.

     8K.  ERISA.

          (i)    The Company and each ERISA Affiliate has operated and
     administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for
     such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and are not
     expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor
     any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of
     ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to
     employee benefit plans (as defined in section 3, of ERISA), and no event,
     transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be
     expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company
     or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the
     rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in
     either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise
     tax provisions or to section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code, other than such
     liabilities or Liens that in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected
     to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (ii)   The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under
     each of the Plans that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than
     Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan's most recently
     ended plan year on the basis of the! actuarial assumptions specified for
     funding purposes in such Plan's most recent actuarial valuation report, did
     not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan allocable
     to such benefit liabilities. The term "benefit liabilities" has the meaning
     specified in section 4001 of ERISA and the terms "current value" and
     "present value" have the meaning specified in section 3 of ERISA.

          (iii)  The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred
     withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal
     liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of
     Multiemployer Plans that in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to
     have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (iv)   The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as
     of the last day, of the Company's most recently ended Fiscal Year in
     accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106,
     without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage
     mandated by section 4980B of the Code) of the Company could not reasonably
     be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       34
<PAGE>

          (v)    The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the
     issuance and sale of the Notes and the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated by the Agreement will not'. involve a transaction which is
     subject to the prohibitions of section 405 of ERISA or in connection with
     which a Tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the
     Code.  The representation in the preceding sentence is made in reliance
     upon and subject to the accuracy of the Purchasers' representations in
     paragraph 9(ii) as to the source of the funds to be used to pay the
     purchase price of the Notes.

     8L.  Governmental and Other Consents.  Except as set forth in Schedule 8L,
neither the nature of the Company, nor any of its businesses or properties, nor
any relationship between the Company and any other Person, nor any circumstance
in connection with the execution and delivery of any Transaction Document or the
offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes is such as to require any
authorization, consent, approval, exemption or any action by or notice to or
filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person in connection with
the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents or the offering,
issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes or fulfillment of or compliance with the
terms and provisions of the Transaction Documents.

     8M.  Environmental Matters.

          (i)    The Company has not received any notice of any claim, and no
     proceeding has been instituted raising any claim, against it or any of its
     real properties or other assets now or formerly owned, leased or operated
     by them, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any
     Environment Laws, except those that, in the aggregate, do not, and could
     not reasonably be expected to, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (ii)   To the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts which would
     give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental
     Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any
     way related to real properties or other assets now or formerly owned,
     leased or operated by it or any Contract Grower or their use, except those
     that, in the aggregate do not, and could not reasonably be expected to,
     result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (iii)  The Company has not stored any Hazardous Materials on real
     properties row or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or
     disposed of or released any Hazardous Materials in violation of any
     Environmental Laws, except such that, in the aggregate do not and could not
     reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (iv)   All buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or
     operated by the Company are in compliance with applicable Environmental
     Laws, except where failures to comply in the aggregate do not, and could
     not reasonably be expected to, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       35
<PAGE>

          (v) The Company has obtained all permits, licenses and other
     authorizations and has made all filings, registrations and other submittals
     which are required of it under all Environmental Laws (except to the extent
     such failures to have any such permits, licenses or authorizations or to
     have made any such filings, registrations or submittals in the aggregate do
     not, and could not reasonably be expected to, result in a Material Adverse
     Effect) and the Company is in compliance with all Environmental Laws and
     with the terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses,
     authorizations, filings, registrations and submittals or not in compliance
     with all applicable orders, decrees, judgments and injunctions, issued,
     entered, promulgated or approved under any Environmental Law (except to the
     extent failures in the aggregate do not, and could not reasonably be
     expected to, result in a Material Adverse Effect).

     8N.  Labor Relations.  There is not now pending, or to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, any strike, work stoppage, work slow down, or material
grievance or other material dispute between the Company and any bargaining unit
or significant number of its respective Employees.  To the knowledge of the
Company, there is no existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of
any of the principal suppliers, contractors or customers that in the aggregate
have had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

     8O.  Financial Condition.  After giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby the Company will be Solvent.

     8P.  Disclosure.  The Transaction Documents, the Financial Statements and
any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the Purchasers by or
on behalf of the Company in connection herewith do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  To the knowledge of
the Company, there is no fact with respect to its business which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been
described in this Agreement or otherwise disclosed in writing to the Purchasers
by the Company.

     8Q.  Status Under Certain Federal Statutes.  The Company is not subject to
regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.  Neither the sale of the Notes
hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the
Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the
United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or
any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

     8R.  Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens.  Schedule 8R lists all Debt
(including Guaranties) of the Company as of the Closing Date in excess of
$1,000,000 to any one lender or related group of lenders, and provides the
following information with respect to each item of such Debt: the obligor, each
guarantor thereof and each other Person similarly liable in respect thereof, the
holder thereof, the aggregate amount of all commitments thereunder (and the
allocation of such commitments, if any, as among revolving credit Debt, term
notes or similar Debt and other credits such as letter of credit or banker's
acceptance facilities), the approximate outstanding amount thereunder and under
each individual facility thereunder, the approximate

                                       36
<PAGE>

current portion of the outstanding amount, the final maturity, required sinking
fund payments, and a description of the collateral securing such Debt. The
Company is not in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in
the payment of any principal or interest on any such Debt and no event or
condition exists with respect to any Debt that would permit (or that with notice
or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such
Debt to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its
regularly scheduled dates of payment.

     8S.  Bank Agreements.  The Company has provided the Purchasers with
complete, true and correct copies of the Bank Agreements as in effect both
immediately prior to and immediately after the Closing Date.  Except for the
Bank Agreements and the lntercreditor Agreement, there are no other written
agreements or understandings or material oral agreements or understandings
between the Company and any Bank Lender relating to the Bank Agreements and
extensions of credit thereunder by any Bank Lender to the Company.  As of the
Closing Date, the Bank Agreements shall be in full force and effect without any
amendment thereof except as contemplated by this Agreement.

     8T.  Compliance with Laws, Etc.  Except as set forth on Schedule 8T, the
Company is in compliance with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules,
regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority (including, without
limitation, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, ERISA
and any Environmental Laws), and has in effect all licenses, certificates,
permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the
ownership of its properties or to the conduct of its businesses, in each case to
the extent necessary to reasonably ensure that non-compliance with such laws,
ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to have in affect
such licenses, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations do
riot, and could not reasonably be expected to, in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     8U.  Brokers.  No broker, finder or other Person performing a similar
function has represented the Company or has acted on behalf of the Company in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

9.   REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.  Each Purchaser represents that:

         (i) It is an Institutional Investor and is purchasing its Notes for
     its own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by it or
     for the account of one or more pension or trust funds, in each case for
     investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof or with any
     present intention of distributing or selling any of its Notes, provided
     that the disposition of such Purchaser's property shall at all times be
     within its control, subject to compliance with applicable law. The Company
     acknowledges that a Purchaser's sale of all or a portion of its Notes to
     one or more Qualified Institutional Buyers in compliance with Rule 144A
     would not be a breach of this representation.

                                       37
<PAGE>

          (ii) With respect to each source of funds to be used by it to pay the
     purchase price of its Notes (respectively, the "Source"), at least one of
     the following statements is accurate as of the Closing Date:

               (a) the Source is an "insurance company general account" within
          the-meaning of Department of Labor Prohibited Transaction Exemption
          ("PTE") 95-60 (issued July 12, 1995) and there is no "employee benefit
          plan" (within the meaning of section 3(3) or ERISA or section
          4975(e)(1) of the Code and treating as a single plan all plans
          maintained by the same employer or employee organization) with respect
          to which the amount of the general account reserves and liabilities
          for all contracts held by or on behalf of such plan exceed 10% of the
          total reserves and liabilities of such general account (exclusive of
          separate account liabilities) plus surplus, as set forth in the NAIC
          Annual Statement filed with the state of domicile of the Purchaser
          and, as a result, the purchase is within the terms of such exemption;

               (b) the Source is either (i)i an insurance company pooled
          separate account and the purchase is exempt in accordance with PTE 90-
          1 (issued January 29, 1990), or (ii) a bank collective investment
          fund, within the meaning of PTE 91-38 (issued July 21, 1991) and,
          except as such Purchaser has disclosed to the Company in writing
          pursuant to this clause (b), no employee benefit plan or group of
          plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization
          beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled
          separate account or collective investment fund and, as a result, the
          purchase is within the terms of one of such exemptions; or

               (c) the Source constitutes assets of an "investment fund" (within
          the meaning of Part V of the OPAM Exemption) managed by a "qualified
          professional asset manager" or "QPAM" (within the meaning of Part V of
          the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan's assets that are
          included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all
          other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same
          employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of section V(c)(1) of
          the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee
          organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client
          assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part l(c) and (g) of
          the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person
          controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of
          "control" in section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more
          interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) if
          applicable, the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are
          included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in
          writing pursuant to this clause (c); or

               (d) the Source is a "governmental plan" as defined in Title 1,
          section 3(32) of ERISA; or

                                       38
<PAGE>

               (e) the Source is one or more plans or a separate account or
          trust fund comprised of one or more plans each of which has been
          identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (e); or

               (f) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit
          plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

As used in this paragraph 9, the terms "employee benefit plan", "governmental
plan", "party in interest" and "separate account" shall have the respective
meanings assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA..

10.  DEFINITIONS.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the respective meanings specified with respect thereto:

     10A.  Prepayment and Make Whole Amount Terms.

     "Average Remaining Life" means the number of years (calculated to the
nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (a) the sum of the products
obtained by multiplying (i) the principal component of each Remaining Schedule
Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (ii) the number of years
(calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the
Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date
of such Remaining Scheduled Payment by (b) the Called Principal.

     "Called Principal" means, as the context requires, with respect to any Note
the principal of such Note which is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4A or 4D
or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7B.

     "Discounted Value" means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Fixed
Rate Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments
from their respective scheduled due dates, in accordance with accepted financial
practice and at a discount factor (applied on a semi-annual basis) equal to the
Discount Rate with respect to such Called Principal.

     "Discount Rate" means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Fixed
Rate Note, the yield to Maturity of the Called Principal implied by (a) (i) the
yield reported as of 1 0:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date which is two
Business Days prior to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called
Principal, on the display designated as "Page 5" on the Telerate Service (or
such other display as may replace Page 5 of the Telerate Service) for actively
traded U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Average Remaining
Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii)if such yields
shall not be reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time
shall not be ascertainable, the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields
reported for the latest day for which such yields shall have been so reported as
of the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such
Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) (or any
comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities
having a constant maturity, equal to the Average Remaining Life of such Called
Principal as of such Settlement Date, plus, in either case, 50 basis points.
Such implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (x) converting U.S.
Treasury

                                       39
<PAGE>

securities quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted
financial practice and (y) interpolating linearly between (1) the actively
traded U.S. Treasury security with the duration closest to and greater than the
Average Remaining Life and (2) the actively traded U.S. Treasury security with
the duration closest to and less than the Average Remaining Life.

     "Fixed Rate Make Whole Amount" means as to any Fixed Rate Note, the amount
equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Discounted Value over (y) the sum of (i)
such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued and unpaid thereon, as of and
due on the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal.  The Fixed
Rate Make Whole Amount shall in no event be less than zero.

     "LIBOR Rate Make Whole Amount" means as to any LIBOR Rate Note to be
prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4A or 4D or declared to be immediately due and
payable pursuant to paragraph 7B, (i) prior to March 2, 2001, an amount equal to
2% of the Called Principal of such LIBOR Rate Note and (ii) on or after March 2,
2001, zero.

     "Make Whole Amount" means with respect to any Fixed Rate Note, the Fixed
Rate Make Whole Amount, and as to any LIBOR Rate Note, the LIBOR Make Whole
Amount.

     "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect to the Called Principal
of any Fixed Rate Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest that
would be due or dividends that would accrue thereon, as the case may be, after
the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, if no payment of
Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided, that if
such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are scheduled to
be made, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will
be reduced by the amount of interest accrued or dividend accrued to such
Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date.

     "Settlement Date" means, with respect to any Note the date on which such
Note is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4A or paragraph 4D or is declared to
be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7B.

     10B.  Other Terms.

     "Affiliate" means, at any time and as to the Company, any other Person
directly or indirectly (i) controlling, controlled by, or under common control
with, the Company or (ii) beneficially owning or holding 10% or more of the
Equity Interest o- any class of Voting Stock of the Company, as well as, in the
case of an individual which is an Affiliate, such individual's spouse, issue,
parents, siblings and issue of siblings (in each case by blood, adoption or
marriage); provided, in no event shall Radical Roots be deemed an Affiliate.  A
Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses,
directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.

     "Agreement" means this Note Purchase Agreement as it may from time to time
be amended in accordance with paragraph 11B.

                                       40
<PAGE>

     "Applicable Margin" means 250 basis points (or 2.50%).

     "Approved Auditor" means Deloitte & Touche, Arthur Andersen LLP, Ernst &
Young LLP, KPMG Peat Marwick or PricewaterhouseCoopers or such other firm of
certified public accountants of national reputation reasonably acceptable to the
Required Holders.

     "Assets Sold" has the meaning specified in paragraph 6B(3)(v).

     "Bank Agreements" means the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Grower Loan
Program Agreement and the Farm Credit Agreement.

     "Bank Lenders" means the lenders under the Bank Agreements.

     "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on
which the Federal Reserve is required or authorized to be closed.

     "Capital Stock" means any class of preferred, common or other capital
stock, share capital or similar equity interest of a Person including, without
limitation, any partnership interest in any partnership or limited partnership
and any membership interest in any limited liability company.

     "Capitalized Lease" means any lease of property (whether real, personal or
mixed), as to which the lessee is required, in accordance with GAAP, to record
such lease as the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability.

     "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means any rental obligation under a
Capitalized Lease, taken at the amount thereof that is accounted for as
indebtedness (net of Interest Expense) in accordance with GAAP.

     "Cash Equivalents" means (i) securities issued or directly and fully and
unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States of America, or
securities of any agency thereof which are backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States of America, and in either case, maturing within one year
from the date of acquisition; (ii) demand deposits in banks in the ordinary
course of business (not for investment purposes); (iii) time deposits or
certificates of deposit denominated in United States dollars maturing within one
year from the date of acquisition issued by commercial banks which are members
of the Federal Reserve System and chartered under the laws of the United States
of America or any state or the District of Columbia, whose short-term securities
are rated at least A-1 (or then existing equivalent) by Standard & Poor's
Corporation and at least P-1 (or then existing equivalent) by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. and having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000; (iv) tax
exempt auction rate securities and municipal preferred stock, in each case with
a reset of not more than 35 days and rated at least AA (or then existing
equivalent) by Standard & Poor's Corporation; and (v), prime commercial paper
maturing no more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, having as at any
date a rating of at least A-1 (or the existing equivalent) from Standard &
Poor's Corporation or at

                                       41
<PAGE>

least P-1 (or then existing equivalent) from Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and
issued by a corporation organized in any state of the United States of America
or the District of Columbia.

     "Change of Control" means the current members of the Murphy family who are
stockholders of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, together with
their respective spouses, issue (whether by blood, adoption or marriage) and
spouses of issue, cease to own, as a group, with the power to vote, at least 51%
of the Voting Stock of the Company on a fully diluted basis.

     "Change of Control Notice" has the meaning specified in paragraph 4D.

     "Closing" and "Closing Date" have the meanings specified in paragraph 2B.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as from time to time
in effect.

     "Company" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.

     "Competitor" means any Person whose primary business is in the hog industry
(whether pork production or slaughter) provided in no event shall any
Institutional Investor be deemed a Competitor.

     "Confidential Information" has the meaning specified in paragraph II F.

     "Consolidated Current Assets" means, as of any date the amount of which is
to be determined, the aggregate amount of current assets of the Consolidated
Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Current Liabilities" means, as of any date the amount of
which is to be determined, the aggregate amount of current liabilities of the
Consolidated Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
provided principal amounts outstanding under revolving credit or swingline loans
under the Revolving Credit Agreement shall not be included in Current
Liabilities.

     "Consolidated Debt" means, as of any date the amount of which is to be
determined, the aggregate Debt of the Consolidated Group determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Group" means, without duplication, the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries and if the context so requires, the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     "Consolidated Net Earnings" means, for any period the amount of which is to
be determined, the Net Income of the Consolidated Group determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

                                       42
<PAGE>

     "Consolidated Net Losses" means, for any period in which Consolidated Net
Earnings is a loss, the amount of such loss, expressed as a positive number.

     "Consolidated Shareholders Equity" means, as of any date the amount of
which is to be determined, the total stockholders' equity (exclusive of
Redeemable Preferred Stock and minority interests) of the Consolidated Group
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means, as of any date the amount of which
is to be determined, Consolidated Shareholders' Equity less Intangibles
determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Total Assets" means, as of any date the amount of which is to
be determined, the total assets of the Consolidated Group determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Total Capitalization" means, as of any date the amount of
which is to be determined, Consolidated Tangible Net Worth plus Consolidated
Debt.

     "Consolidated Total Liabilities" means, as of any date the amount of which
is to be determined, all liabilities of the Consolidated Group (including
Guaranties) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Contract Growers" means the independent farmers with whom the Company has
written contracts under which such farmers provide facilities and labor to
complete a stage of production of Company-owned swine.

     "Covered Taxes" has the meaning specified in paragraph 4H.

     "Debt" means, as applied to any Person without duplication, obligations of
such Person:

          (i)   for borrowed money,

          (ii)  evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
     instruments,

          (iii) for deferred purchase price of property or service other than
     Trade Payables arising in the ordinary course of business but including all
     liabilities created or arising under any conditional sale or other title
     retention agreement with respect to any such property,

          (iv)  for Capitalized Lease Obligations,

          (v)   to reimburse any other Person in respect of amounts paid under
     letters of credit, bankers acceptances or similar instruments serving a
     similar function issued or accepted by banks and other financial
     institutions for the account of such Person whether

                                       43
<PAGE>

     or not representing obligations for borrowed money), other than undrawn
     trade letters of credit in the ordinary course of business,

          (vi)  for Hedging Obligations other than commodity hedging agreement
     entered into in the ordinary course of the Company's business and settled
     on a daily basis pursuant to the rules of the Chicago Board of Trade,

          (vii) for or with respect to obligations secured by (or for which the
     holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise,
     to be secured by) a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such
     obligation is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligation being
     deemed to be the lessor of the fair market value of such asset or the
     amount of the obligation so secured, and

          (x)   under Guaranties, exclusive, however, in the case of the Company
     and its Subsidiaries, of Guaranties of the Company or any Subsidiary in
     respect of Grower Loans of $8,600,000 in aggregate principal amount.

     "Default" means any occurrence or condition which with the giving of notice
or the passage of time, or both, and remaining uncured after the expiration of
any applicable grace period would be an Event of Default.

     "Default Rate" has the meaning specified in paragraph 1C(iii).

     "Disposition" has the meaning specified in paragraph 6B(3)(v).

     "DOL" means the United States Department of Labor and any successor agency.

     "Duplin Land" means Duplin Land Development, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation.

     "Election Notice" has the meaning specified in paragraph 4D.

     "Environmental Laws" means any and all Federal, state and local statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits,
concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental
restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the
release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to
those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to
waste or public systems.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
as from time to time, in effect.

     "ERISA Affiliate", for Plan purposes, means, with respect to any Person,
any trade or business, whether or not incorporated, which, is treated as a
single employer together with such Person under section 414 of the Code.

                                       44
<PAGE>

     "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in paragraph 7A.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as from time
to time in effect.

     "Expenses" has the meaning specified in paragraph 11A.

     "Equity Interest" means, in any Person, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of any Capital
Stock or other ownership of any profit interest, and any and all warrants,
rights, options, obligations or other equity securities, of or in such Person,
and rights to acquire any of the foregoing, including, without limitation,
partnership interests and joint venture (whether general or limited) and any
other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such
partnership or joint venture, but excluding Debt for borrowed money other than
Debt that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, any of the foregoing equity
interests.

     "Farm Credit" means Cape Fear Farm Credit, ACA.

     "Farm Credit Agreement" means prior to the Closing, the Loan Agreement
dated as of October 26, 1995 by and between the Company and Farm Credit, as
amended through the date of this Agreement and after the Closing, as amended and
restated in accordance with paragraph 3M.

     "Farm Credit Security Documents" has the meaning specified in paragraph 5N.

     "Financial Statements" has the meaning specified in paragraph 8C.

     "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Company ending in the Saturday
closest to October 31 of each year.

     "Fixed Rate Notes" has the meaning specified in paragraph 1A.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from
time to time in the United States.

     "Governmental Authority" means (a) the governments of (i) the United States
of America and its states and political subdivisions, and (ii) any other
jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of
its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company
or any Subsidiary, and (b) any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such
government or jurisdiction.

     "Grower Advances" has the meaning specified in paragraph 6B(7)(vii).

     "Grower Loans" means loans made by the Company in the ordinary course of
its business to its Contract Growers for construction, maintenance, improvement
or purchase of

                                       45
<PAGE>

buildings, facilities and equipment required to care for Company-owned swine and
secured by a perfected security interest or mortgage on such buildings,
facilities or equipment and Grower, Advances which have been outstanding for
more than 180 days and with respect to which the Contract Grower has delivered
to the Company a promissory note and adequate security for the repayment of such
Grower Advance.

     "Grower Loan Program Agreement" means the Transfer and Administration
Agreement dated as of October 15, 1997 among the Company, Enterprise Funding
Corporation, Murphy Funding, Inc. and NationsBank, N.A., as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time other than any amendment, modification or
supplement which increases the aggregate amount of Grower Loans to be purchased
under such agreement or requires the Company to supply a Guaranty or additional
credit enhancement.

     "Guaranty", as applied to any Person, means any direct or indirect
liability, contingent or otherwise, of such Person with respect to any Debt of
another, including, without limitation, any such obligation directly or
indirectly guaranteed, endorsed (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business) or discounted or sold with recourse by such Person,
or in respect of which such Person is otherwise directly or indirectly liable,
including, without limitation, any such obligation in effect guaranteed by such
Person through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, repurchase
or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to advance to
or provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the
form of loans, advances, stock, purchases, capital contributions or otherwise),
or to maintain the working capital, equity capital, net worth, solvency or any
balance sheet or other financial condition of the obligor of such obligation,
or, to make payment for any securities, products, materials or supplies or for
any transportation or services without regard to the non-delivery or
nonfurnishing thereof, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied
with, or that the holders of such obligation will be protected against loss in
respect thereof.  The amount of any Guaranty shall be deemed to be equal to the
lower of (a) the amount of the obligation guaranteed and (b) the maximum amount
for which such Person may be contingently liable pursuant to the terms of the
instrument evidencing such Guaranty, unless such guaranteed obligation and the
amount for which such Person may be liable are not stated or, determinable, in
which case the amount of such Guaranty shall be the maximum reasonable
anticipated liability for which such Person is contingently liable in respect
thereof as determined by the Company in good faith (but in any event not less
than the amount which is, or would otherwise be required, in accordance with
GAAP, to be reflected in such Person's balance sheet or the notes thereto) as
the amount of such obligation.  A Person shall have "Guaranteed" an obligation
if such Person has entered into a Guaranty of such obligation.

     "Hazardous Materials", at any time, shall mean any substance: (a) the
presence of which at such time requires notification, investigation, monitoring
or remediation under any Environmental Law; (b) which at such time is defined as
a "hazardous waste", "hazardous material", "hazardous substance", "toxic
substance", "pollutant" or "contaminant" under any Environmental Law, including,
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.) and any applicable local statutes
                                      -- ---
and the regulations promulgated thereunder; or (c) without limitation, which
contains gasoline, diesel fuel or other petroleum products, asbestos or
polychlorinated biphenyls.

                                       46
<PAGE>

     "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of
such Person under any one or more of the following agreements entered into by
such Person with one or more financial institutions: interest rate protection
agreements, interest rate swaps and/or other types of interest rate hedging
agreements obligating such Person to make payments, whether periodically or upon
the happening of a contingency except that, if any agreement relating to such
obligations of such Person provides for the netting of amounts payable by and to
such Person thereunder or if any such agreement provides for the simultaneous
payment of amounts by and to such Person, then in each such case, the amount of
a Person's Hedging Obligations thereunder shall be the net amount hereof.  The
aggregate net Hedging Obligations of a Person at any time shall be the aggregate
amount thereof assuming all such Hedging Obligations had been terminated by such
Person as of the end of its then most recently ended fiscal quarter; provided if
such net aggregate obligation shall be an amount owing to such Person, then the
amount shall be deemed to be Zero ($0) Dollars.

     "Holder" means any Person at the time shown as the holder of a Note on the
register referred to in paragraph 11N.

     "Home Office" means, with respect to any Holder, the office of such Holder
specified as its Home Office on Annex 1, or such other office of such Holder as
such Holder may from time to time specify to the Company.

     "Intangibles" means all Intellectual Property, goodwill and all other
assets or property classified as intangibles in accordance with GAAP.

     "Intellectual Property" means all patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade
names, service marks or other intellectual or industrial property rights.

     "Intercreditor Agreement" has the meaning specified in paragraph 3N.

     "Institutional Investor" means any bank, savings institution, trust
company, insurance company, investment company, pension or profit sharing trust
or other financial institution or institutional buyer within the meaning of
Section 402(b)(8) of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act; and an
"Accredited Investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1) of the Securities Act,
in each case, regardless of legal form.

     "Investment" has the meaning specified in paragraph 6B(7).

     "Knowledge of the Company" means the actual knowledge of any Senior Officer
of the Company.

     "LIBOR Interest Period" means a period of three consecutive months
     provided,

          (i) the first LIBOR Interest Period shall commence on the Closing Date
     and each successive LIBOR Interest Period shall commence on the date on
     which the next preceding LIBOR Interest Period expires;

                                       47
<PAGE>

          (ii)  if any LIBOR Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day
     that is not a Business Day, such LIBOR Interest Period shall expire on the
     next succeeding Business Day; provided, that if any LIBOR Interest Period
     would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of
     the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such
     LIBOR Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day;

          (iii) any LIBOR Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day
     of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
     corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such LIBOR Interest
     Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month
     at the end of such LIBOR Interest Period; and

          (iv)  no LIBOR Interest Period shall extend beyond March 2, 2002.

     "LIBOR Rate" means the London Interbank Offered Rate for three-month United
States dollar deposits (truncated to three decimal points) as published in the
"Money Rates" column of the Wall Street Journal (or a comparable listing in the
                            -------------------
Wall Street Journal) on the first Business Day of March, June, September and
-------------------
December of each year.  If, for any reason, such rate is not available, then
"LIBOR" shall mean the rate per annum at which, as determined by the Required
Holders, Dollars in the amount of $5,000,000 are being offered to leading banks
at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the
commencement of the applicable LIBOR Interest Period for settlement in
immediately available funds by leading banks in the London Interbank market for
a period equal to the LIBOR Interest Period.

     "LIBOR Rate Notes" has the meaning specified in paragraph 1A.

     "Lien" means any interest in property securing an obligation owed to, or a
claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest
is based on the common law, statute, court decision or contract, and including,
without limitation, any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lease, encumbrance,
lien, purchase option, call or right, or charge of any kind (including any
agreement to give or permit any of the foregoing), any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, any Capitalized Lease, and the filing of, or
agreement to give or permit the filing on its behalf, of any financing statement
under the Uniform Commercial Code or personal property security legislation of
any jurisdiction.

     "Material Adverse Effect" means, (i) any material adverse effect on the
Company's business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of
operations, (ii) any material adverse effect on the Consolidated Group's
business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations on,
where appropriate, a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and (iii) any
adverse effect, WHETHER OR NOT MATERIAL, on the binding nature, validity or
enforceability of any Transaction Document as the obligation of the Company or
any Subsidiary a party thereto and (iv) any material adverse effect on the
ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to perform its obligations under any
Transaction Document.

                                       48
<PAGE>

     "Multiemployer Plan" means any plan which is a "multiemployer plan" as such
term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

     "New Farm Credit Term Loan" has the meaning specified in paragraph 3M.

     "Net Income" means for any period for which the amount thereof is to be
determined, the net income (or loss) of a Person for such period determined in
accordance with GAAP; provided, that there shall be excluded from net income any
gain or loss of an extraordinary nature for such period.

     "Notes" has the meaning specified in paragraph IA.

     "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed in the name of the
Company by any two Senior Officers.

     "Other Taxes" has the meaning specified in paragraph 4H.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other
Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its functions.

     "Permitted Tax Distribution" means, for any Fiscal Year in which the
Company is taxed as a pass-through entity under the Code, the amount by which
the aggregate current tax liability of the Company's shareholders arising out of
or relating to the income of the Company during such Fiscal Year exceeds the
amount of dividends permitted to be made in under subparagraph (i) of paragraph
6B(6) in respect of Consolidated Net Earnings such Fiscal Year.

     "Person" means and includes an individual, a partnership, a joint venture,
a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust and any other form of
business organization (whether or not a legal entity), or any Governmental
Authorities.

     "Plan" means an "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3 of
ERISA) which is or within the preceding five years has been established or
maintained, or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Company or
any ERISA Affiliate, or for which the Consolidated Group or any ERISA Affiliate
may have any liability.

     "Preferred Stock" means as to any Person, any Redeemable Preferred Stock
and any other class or series of capital stock of such Person that has a
priority as to the payment of any dividends or distributions over the holders of
the most junior class of capital stock of such Person.

     "PTE" has the meaning specified in paragraph 9(ii)(a).

     "Purchaser" and "Purchasers" have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A.

     "QPAM Exemption" means Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-14 issued
by the United States Department of Labor.

                                       49
<PAGE>

     "Qualified Institutional Buyer" means a qualified institutional buyer, as
defined in Rule 144A.

     "Qualifying Reinvestment" has the meaning specified in paragraph 6B(3).

     "Radical Roots" mean Radical Roots, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability
company.

     "Redeemable Preferred Stock" means any class or series of capital stock
which has fixed payment or redemption obligations due and payable prior to the
final scheduled due date for the repayment of principal of the Notes or is
redeemable at the option of the holder, unless such fixed payment obligations or
repurchase obligations on exercise of such redemption option can be satisfied,
at the election of the issuer, through the issuance of shares of its; common
stock.

     "Related Party" means, as to the Company, the Company's Affiliates, holders
of its Equity Interests, its Senior Officers and directors.

     "Related Party Advances" means any loan or advance or other extension of
credit to, or the purchase or assumption of any note or other obligation from,
any Related Party.

     "Required Holders" means the Holder or Holders of at least 51% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding.

     "Restricted Payments" means and includes:

          (i)   any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on
     account of any shares of any Equity Interest of the Company, now or
     hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of common
     stock of the Company; or

          (ii)  any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on
     account of any shares of any Equity Interest of any Subsidiary, now or
     hereafter outstanding, except:

                (a) a dividend payable solely in shares of common stock of such
          Subsidiary; or

                (b) to the extent that such dividend or distribution is payable
          solely to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

          (iii) any payment, whether in respect of principal, premium,
     interest, fees, expenses or otherwise, in respect of, or any redemption,
     retirement, purchase or other acquisition, direct or indirect, of, any Debt
     that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Debt
     represented by the Notes.

          (iv)  any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition,
     direct or indirect, of any shares of Equity Interest of the Company now or
     hereafter outstanding,

                                       50
<PAGE>

     other than the exercise or conversion thereof for and into common stock of
     the Company; and

          (v)   any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition,
     direct or indirect, of any shares of Equity Interest of any Subsidiary now
     or hereafter outstanding, except to the extent that such redemption,
     retirement, purchase or other acquisition is made from, and the payment in
     respect of such redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition is
     paid solely to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

     "Revolving Credit Agreement" means prior to the Closing, the Credit
Agreement dated as of July 16, 1997 by and among the Company, the lenders named
therein, First Union National Bank, as Agent and Caisse Nationale de Credit
Agricole and NationsBank, N.A. as Co-Agents, as amended as of January 31, 1999
and, after the Closing, as amended and restated in accordance with paragraph 3L.

     "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act and
including any successor rule thereto, as such rule may be amended from time to
time.

     "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any
Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions of such Commission in the
administration of the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as from time to time
in effect.

     "Senior Officer" means the (chairman of the board, the president, chief
executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, or principal accounting
officer of the Company.

     "Special Counsel" means the law firm of Sullivan & Worcester LLP or such
other firm of legal counsel as the Purchasers may from time to time designate as
their Special Counsel for the purposes of this Agreement or any matters related
hereto.

     "Solvent" and "Solvency" means with respect to any Person (i) the fair
value of the property of such Person exceeds its total liabilities (including,
without limitation, contingent liabilities), (ii) the present fair saleable
value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be
required to pay its probable liability on its debts as they become absolute and
matured, (iii) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it
will, incur debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay as such debts and
liabilities mature and (iv) such Person is not engaged, and is not about to
engage, in business or a transaction for which its property would constitute an
unreasonably small capital.

     "Subsidiary" means (i) a corporation of which such Person owns, directly or
indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) (by number of votes) of each class of
Voting Stock, or (ii) any other Person of which such Person owns, directly or
indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the rights to profits and losses of
such other Person; provided, in no event will Radical Roots

                                       51
<PAGE>

be deemed a Subsidiary. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any
reference to a "Subsidiary" is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.

     "Subsidiary Guaranties" has the meaning specified in paragraph 5L.

     "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, assessments, stamps,
duties, fees, levies, imposts, deductions, withholdings or other governmental
charges of any nature whatsoever and any liabilities with respect thereto,
including any surcharge, penalties, additions to tax, fines or interest thereon,
now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any
government or taxing authority of any country or political subdivision of any
country, or any international taxing authority.

     "Trade Payables" means amounts payable to suppliers of goods and services
in the ordinary course of a Person's business.

     "Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Intercreditor
Agreement and the Subsidiary Guaranties (if, as and when executed and delivered
pursuant to paragraph SL).

     "Transferee" means; any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of
the Notes.

     "Voting Stock" means any securities of any class of a Person whose holders
are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors
of such Person (or Persons performing similar functions) (irrespective of
whether at the time securities of any other class or classes shall have or might
have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

     "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means, at any time, any Subsidiary one hundred
percent (100%) of all of the Equity Interests (except directors' qualifying
shares) and Voting Stock (except directors' qualifying shares) of which are
owned by any one or more of the Company and the Company's other Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries at such time.

     "Working Capital" means as of any date the amount of which is to be
determined, Consolidated Current Assets minus Consolidated Current Liabilities.

11.  MISCELLANEOUS.

11A. Expenses.  Whether or not the transactions provided for hereby shall be
consummated, the Company will pay on demand and upon receipt of an invoice
therefor, and save each Purchaser and its Transferees harmless against liability
for the payment of, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising in connection
with such transactions and in connection with any subsequent modification of, or
consent under, the Transaction Documents, whether or not such transactions are
consummated or modification shall be effected or consent granted ("Expenses"),
including (i) the reasonable fees and expenses of Special Counsel and its agents
and of any other special or local counsel or other special advisers engaged by
the Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Amendment, (ii) the costs of obtaining the private placement
numbers from Standard & Poor's Ratings Group for the Notes and (iii) the

                                       52
<PAGE>

costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and the fees of any
other special or financial advisers, incurred in evaluating, monitoring or
enforcing any rights under the Transaction Documents (including, without
limitation, any costs, expenses or fees incurred in connection with perfecting
or maintaining perfection of any Lien hereafter existing in favor of the
Purchasers or any of their transferees as security for the obligations of the
Company or any Subsidiary under the Transaction Documents or maintaining or
protecting the collateral which is the subject of such Lien) or in responding to
any subpoena or other legal process issued in connection with the Transaction
Documents or the transactions provided for hereby or thereby or by reason of a
Purchaser or any Transferee having acquired any of its Notes (other than those
issued solely as a result of (a) such Purchaser or Transferee being engaged in
business in a regulated industry or (b) such Purchaser's or Transferee's actions
or omissions in connection with a transfer of a Note), including without
limitation costs and expenses incurred in connection with any bankruptcy or
insolvency of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any workout or
restructuring of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents. The obligations of the Company under this paragraph llA and the
obligations of the Company under paragraph 4H and paragraph 5J(ii) shall survive
the transfer of any of its Notes or any interest therein by a Purchaser or any
Transferee and the payment of any Notes.

     11B.  Consent to Amendments.

           (i) No Transaction Document may be amended, and the Company may not
     take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein
     required to be performed by it, without the written consent of the Required
     Holders, except that:

               (a) no decrease in the interest rate of, or Make Whole Amount
          payable on, the Notes or change to the mandatory repayment of the
          Notes as provided in paragraph 4C;

               (b) no amendment or waiver of the provisions of paragraph 7B or
          paragraph 7C, or amendment or waiver of any defined term to the extent
          used therein; and

               (c) no amendment or waiver of the definition of "Required
          Holders" or other amendment of the percentage of Notes required to be
          held by Holders consenting to any action under this Agreement;

     may be made or granted without the written consent of all Holders.

          (ii) Any Holder may specify that any such written consent executed by
     it shall be effective only with respect to a portion of the Notes held by
     it (in which case it shall specify, by dollar amount, the aggregate
     principal amount of Notes with respect to which such consent shall be
     effective) and in the event of any such specifications; such Holder shall
     be deemed to have executed such written consent only with respect to the
     portion of Notes so specified.

                                       53
<PAGE>

          (iii) Each Holder at the time or thereafter shall be bound by any
amendment or waiver authorized by the Required Holders in accordance with this
paragraph 11B whether or not its Notes are marked to reflect such amendment or
waiver.  No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation,
covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived
or impair any right consequent thereon.

          (iv)  No course of dealing between the Company or any Subsidiary and
     any Holder nor any delay in exercising any rights under any Transaction
     Document shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any Holder.

          (v)   Any amendment or waiver made pursuant to this paragraph 11B by a
     Holder that has transferred or has agreed to transfer its Notes to the
     Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate and has provided or has agreed to
     provide such amendment or waiver as a condition to such transfer shall be
     void and of no force and effect except solely as to such Holder, and any
     amendments effected or waivers granted that would not have been or would
     not be so effected or granted but for such amendment or waiver (and the
     amendments or waivers of all other Holders that were acquired under the
     same or similar conditions) shall be void and of no force and effect,
     retroactive to the date such amendment or waiver initially took car takes
     effect, except solely as to such Holder.

     11C.  Persons Deemed Owners; Participations.  The Company may treat the
Person at the time shown on the register referenced in paragraph 11N in whose
name any Note, is issued as the owner and holder of such Note for the purpose of
receiving payment on or in respect of such Note and for all other purposes
whatsoever, and the Company shall not be affected by notice to the contrary.
Subject to the preceding sentence, a Holder may from time to time grant
participations in all or any part of its Notes to any Person on such terms and
conditions as may be determined by such Holder in its sole and absolute
discretion, subject to its compliance with applicable law.

     11D.  Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement.  All
representations and warranties contained in any Transaction Document or made in
any other writing by or on behalf of the Company in connection herewith shall
survive the execution and delivery of such Transaction Document or other
writing, the transfer by a Purchaser of any Notes or portion thereof or interest
therein and the payment of any Notes and may be relied upon by any Transferee,
regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of the
Purchasers or any Transferee.  All representations and warranties contained in
any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company
pursuant tic) any Transaction Document shall be deemed representation and
warranties of the Company under this Agreement and not of the individuals
executing such certificates or other instruments on behalf of the Company.
Subject to the preceding sentence, the Transaction Documents embody the entire
agreement and understanding between the Purchasers and the Company and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof
and thereof.

     11E.  Successors and Assigns.  All covenants and other agreements in this
Agreement contained by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and
inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of such party
(including, without limitation, any Transferee)

                                       54
<PAGE>

whether so expressed or riot; provided the Company may not delegate the
performance of any of its obligations hereunder.

     11F.  Confidential Information.  For the purposes of this paragraph,
"Confidential Information" means information delivered to a Purchaser by or on
behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by or
otherwise pursuant to this Agreement, whether in the past, present or future,
that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or
otherwise adequately identified when received by the Purchaser as being
confidential information of the Company, provided that such term does not
include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to the
Purchaser prior to the time of such disclosure or (b) subsequently becomes
publicly known through no act or omission by the Purchaser.  Each Purchaser will
maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with
the procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information
of third parties delivered to it.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Purchaser
may deliver copies of any Confidential Information to (i) such Purchaser's and
its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees, and to its agents and
professional consultants, (ii) any other Purchaser, (iii) any Person to whom
such Purchaser offers to sell any of its Notes or any part thereof or to whom
such Purchaser sells or offers to sell a participation in all or any part of its
Notes, (iv) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over
such Purchaser and which requires such disclosure, (v) any Person from which a
Purchaser offers to purchase any security of the Company or a Subsidiary, (vi)
the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any rating agency which
generally require access to information about a Purchaser's investment portfolio
or any similar organization, (vii) Standard & Poor's Ratings Group (in
connection with obtaining a private placement number for the Notes) or (viii)
any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or
appropriate (a) in compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable
to such Purchaser, (b) in response to any subpoena or other legal process,
provided, however, that each Holder agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
inform the Company of the service upon it of such subpoena or legal process, and
to reasonably cooperate with the Company should the Company wish (at the
Company's expense) to seek a protective order or similar relief relating to such
disclosure; or (c) at any time after the acceleration of such Purchaser's Notes
upon the occurrence of Event of Default (if such acceleration has not then been
rescinded in accordance with paragraph 7C) to the extent that such Purchaser
determines disclosure is necessary or appropriate in the enforcement of or for
the protection of its rights and remedies under the Transaction Documents.  Each
Holder, by its acceptance of its Notes, will be deemed to have agreed to be
bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this paragraph 11F as though it
were a party to this Agreement.

     11G.  Notices.

           (i)  All notices and other written communications provided for
     hereunder shall be given in writing and delivered in person or sent by
     recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) or by
     facsimile transmission, if the original of such facsimile transmission is
     sent on the same day by a recognized overnight delivery service (with
     charges prepaid); and

                                       55
<PAGE>

               (a) if to a Purchaser or its nominee, addressed to such Person at
          the address or fax number specified for such communications to such
          Purchaser in Annex 1, or at such other address or fax number as such
          Person shall have specified to the Company in writing,

               (b) if to any other Holder, addressed to such other Holder at
          such address or fax number- as is specified for such Holder in the
          Note register referenced in paragraph 11N, and

               (c) if to the Company, or any Guarantor at the address or fax
          number specified in Annex 2 or at such other address or fax number as
          the Company, shall have specified to each Holder in writing given in
          accordance with this paragraph 11G.

          (ii)   Any communication addressed and delivered as herein provided
     shall be deemed to be received when actually delivered to the address of
     the addressee (whether or not delivery is accepted) or received by the
     telecopy machine of the recipient.  Any communication not so addressed and
     delivered shall be ineffective.

          (iii)  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 11G,
     service of process in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
     relating to this Agreement or any document, agreement or transaction
     contemplated hereby, or any action or proceeding to execute or otherwise
     enforce any judgment in respect of any breach hereunder or under any
     document or agreement contemplated hereby, shall be delivered in the manner
     provided in paragraph 11L.

     11H. Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings of the several
     paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not
     constitute a part of this Agreement.

     11I. Solicitation of Holders.  The Company will provide each Holder with
sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is
required, to enable such Holder to make an informed and considered decision with
respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requested under any
Transaction Document.  The Company will deliver executed or true and correct
copies of each such amendment, waiver or consent effected to each Holder
promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or
receives the consent or approval of, the Required Holders.  Neither the Company
nor any Person acting on its behalf will directly or indirectly, pay or cause to
be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest,
fee, expense (other than such Holders Expenses) or otherwise, to any Holder for
or in connection with any consent by such Holder in its capacity as a Holder to
any waiver or amendment of any of the terms of the Transaction Documents unless
such remuneration is concurrently paid, on the same terms, ratably to all
Holders whether or riot such Holder consented to the waiver or amendment.

     11J. Reproduction of Documents.  Any Transaction Document and all related
documents, including (a) consents, waivers and modifications which may
subsequently be

                                       56
<PAGE>

executed, (b) documents received by the Purchasers on the purchase of the Notes
(except the Notes) an6 (c) financial statements, certificates and other
information previously or subsequently furnished to the Purchasers, may be
reproduced by the Purchasers by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-
card, miniature photographic or other similar process and the Purchasers may
destroy any original document so reproduced. 'The Company agrees and stipulates
that any such reproduction shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be
admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative
proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not the
reproduction was made by a Purchaser in the regular course of business, and to
the extent not prohibited by applicable law, that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of the reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.

     11K.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT IS TO BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY LAWS OR RULES
RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS).

     11L.  Consent to Jurisdiction and Service.  TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY HEREBY ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS AND
SUBMITS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND OF ANY FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN SAID JURISDICTION IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST IT BY ANY HOLDER
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY OF THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS AND HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING
MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT.  THE COMPANY HEREBY WAIVES AND
AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, IN EACH CASE, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY CLAIM THAT (A) IT IS NOT
PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, (B) IT IS IMMUNE FROM
ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO
JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT
TO IT OR ITS PROPERTY, (C) ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM, OR (D) SUCH TRANSACTION DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR
BY ANY SUCH COURT.  IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY HEREBY ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY AND PERSONAL IN HAND SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT,
DECLARATION OR OTHER PROCESS AND HEREBY ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT
THE SERVICE MAY BE MADE BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED, DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN OR FURNISHED PURSUANT TO
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR BY ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  THE
COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS AND AGREES TO MAINTAIN THE

                                       57
<PAGE>

APPOINTMENT OF CT CORPORATION SYSTEM, INC. WITH OFFICES AS OF THE DATE OF THIS
AGREEMENT AT 2 OLIVER STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 (PROVIDED IF CT
CORPORATION SYSTEM, INC. IS NO LONGER ABLE TO ACT AS SUCH AN AGENT, THEN OF
ANOTHER CORPORATE AGENT OF NATIONAL STANDING WITH OFFICES WITHIN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IF THE COMPANY HAVE GIVEN EACH HOLDER PRIOR
WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUCH NEW CORPORATE AGENT), AS ITS
AGENT TO RECEIVE FOR AND ON ITS BEHALF, SERVICES OF PROCESS IN THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THE FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED THEREIN IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR
PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT
SUCH SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED COMPLETED UPON THE DATE 10 DAYS AFTER DELIVERY TO
SUCH AGENT WHETHER OR NOT SUCH AGENT GIVES NOTICE THEREOF TO THE COMPANY.
ANYTHING HEREINBEFORE TO THE CONTRARY NOTWITHSTANDING, ANY HOLDER MAY SUE THE
COMPANY IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION AND ANY PARTY MAY SUE ANY OTHER
PARTY ON A JUDGMENT RENDERED BY ANY COURT PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE
FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS PARAGRAPH II L IN THE COURTS OF ANY COUNTRY, STATE OF THE
UNITED STATES OR PLACE WHERE SUCH OTHER PARTY OR ANY OF ITS PROPERTY OR ASSETS
MAY BE FOUND OR IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.

     11M.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it shall
not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for
more than one such counterpart.

     11N.  Registration, Transfer, Exchange and Replacement of Notes.

     11N(l).   Registration.  The Notes are to be issued and are transferable in
whole or in part as registered Notes without coupons in denominations of at
least $1,000,000, except as may be necessary to reflect any principal amount
less than $1,000,000 and may be exchanged for one or more Notes of any
authorized denomination and like class and aggregate outstanding principal
amount.  The Company shall keep at the principal executive office of the Company
a register in which the Company shall record the registrations of the Notes by
class of Note and the names and addresses of the Holders from time to time and
all transfers thereof.  The Company shall provide any Holder who is a Purchaser
or an Institutional Investor or who otherwise holds not less than 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, promptly upon request,
a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of the then Holders.

     11N(2).   Transfer and Exchange.  Upon surrender of a Note to the Company
for registration of transfer or exchange endorsed or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered Holder or its attorney
duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the address for notices, the
Company shall at its expense (except as provided below), execute and deliver one
or more replacement Notes of like tenor and class and of a like aggregate
amount, registered in the name of such Transferee or Transferees. Each new Note
will bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid ion the
surrendered Note or the
                                       58
<PAGE>

date of surrender if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental
charge imposed in respect of any such transfer. If a transfer of a Note is not
made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act,
the Company may require the transferor to deliver, prior to such transfer, an
opinion of counsel, which may be counsel to such transferor, reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, that such Note may be sold without registration
under the Act. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, each
Purchaser agrees that it will not knowingly transfer its Note(s) to a Competitor
unless at such time an Event of Default specified in clause (i) of paragraph 7A
shall exist or such Note(s) have been accelerated pursuant to paragraph 7B and
such acceleration has not been rescinded pursuant to paragraph 7C.

     11N(3). Replacement.  Upon receipt of written notice from a Holder of the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Note and, in the case of any such
loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of an indemnification agreement of such
Holder (and, in the case of a Holder which is not a Qualified Institutional
Buyer, with such security as may be reasonably requested by the Company)
satisfactory to the Company, or in the case of any such mutilation upon
surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Company will make and deliver a new
Note, at its expense, of like tenor and class, in lieu of the lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated Note, and each new Note will bear interest from the date
to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Note or if no interest has been paid thereon, the date of issue of
such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note.

     11O.    Compliance by Subsidiaries.  The Company, as the shareholder of its
Subsidiaries, shall cause such meetings to be held, votes to be cast,
resolutions to be passed, by-laws to be made and confirmed, documents to be
executed and all other things and acts to be done to ensure that, at all times,
the provisions of this Agreement relating to its Subsidiaries are complied with.

     11P.    Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or
deemed to be, or shall in fact be, invalid, inoperative, illegal or
unenforceable as applied to any particular case in any jurisdiction because of
the conflict of such provision with any constitution or statute or rule of
public policy or for any other reason, such circumstance shall not have the
effect of rendering the provision or provisions in question invalid,
inoperative, illegal or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction or in any other
case or circumstance or of rendering any other provision or provisions herein
contained invalid, inoperative, illegal or unenforceable to the extent that such
other provisions are not themselves actually in conflict with such constitution,
statute or rule of public policy, but this Agreement shall be reformed and
construed in any such jurisdiction or case as if such invalid, inoperative,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein and such
provision reformed so that it would be valid, operative and enforceable to the
maximum extent permitted in such jurisdiction or in such case.

     11Q.    Termination.  This Agreement and the rights of the Holders and the
obligations of the Company hereunder shall not terminate until each of the
Notes, including all principal, interest, including interest on overdue interest
and Make Whole Amount has been indefeasibly paid in full and all Expenses and
all other amounts owed to any Purchaser or any Holder pursuant to the terms of
any Transaction Document has been indefeasibly paid in full.

                                       59
<PAGE>

     11R.  Construction.  Each covenant contained herein shall be construed
(absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other
covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not
(absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with
any other covenant.  Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by
any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall
be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such
Person.

                                       60
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed and delivered by one of its duly authorized officers;.

COMPANY:                        MURPHY FARMS, INC.

                                By:
                                   -----------------------------------
                                Title:  Vice President of Finance and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

PURCHASERS:                     JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE
                                INSURANCE COMPANY

                                By:
                                   -----------------------------------
                                Title:  Investment Officer

                                MELLON BANK, N.A., solely in its
                                capacity as Trustee for the Long-Term
                                Investment Trust (as directed by John
                                Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company),
                                and not in its individual capacity

                                By:
                                   -----------------------------------
                                Title:  Unreadable

                                LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.  MASTER
                                PENSION TRUST

                                By: John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance
                                      Company, as Investment Advisor

                                By:
                                   -----------------------------------
                                Title:  Investment Officer

                                       61
<PAGE>

                                INVESTORS PARTNER LIFE
                                INSURANCE COMPANY

                                By:
                                   -----------------------------------
                                Title:  Investment Officer

                                JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE LIFE
                                INSURANCE COMPANY

                                 By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                 Title:  Investment Officer

                                SIGNATURE 1A (CAYMAN), LTD.

                                By:  John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance
                                       Company, as Portfolio Advisor

                                By:
                                   -------------------------------------
                                Title:  Investment Officer

                                       62<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.9(b)

                                    GUARANTY

     THIS GUARANTY, dated as of January 24, 2000 (as amended or restated from
time to time, this "Guaranty"), by Smithfield Foods, Inc., a Virginia
corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the "Guarantor"), in
favor of each of the Noteholders (as such term is hereinafter defined).

1.  PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.

1.1   Murphy Farms, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (together with its
successors and assigns, the "Company"), is a party to a certain Note Purchase
Agreement, dated as of March 2, 1999 (the "Existing Note Purchase Agreement,"
and as amended by the Amendment and Consent referred to below and as further
amended or restated from time to time, the "Note Purchase Agreement"), entered
into with each of the institutional investors listed on Annex 1 thereto
(together with their respective successors and assigns, the "Noteholders"),
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Noteholders (i) $75,000,000 in
aggregate original  principal amount of its 8.25% Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate
Notes (the "Fixed Rate Notes") and (ii) $25,000,000 in aggregate original
principal amount of its Senior Unsecured LIBOR Rate Notes (such Senior Unsecured
LIBOR Rate Notes, collectively with the Fixed Rate Notes, are herein referred to
as the "Notes").  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Note Purchase Agreement.

1.2   Pursuant to a certain Stock Acquisition and Plan of Reorganization
dated as of November 15, 1999 (the "Acquisition Agreement"), entered into by the
Guarantor with Wendell H. Murphy and other stockholders of the Company and
certain of its affiliates, the Guarantor has agreed to acquire the stock of the
Company and certain of its affiliates.

1.3   The Company and the Guarantor have requested the Noteholders to enter
into that certain Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement and Consent, dated as of
the date hereof (the "Amendment and Consent"), with the Company for the purpose
of consenting to the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and
amending certain provisions of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement, and in
order to induce the Noteholders to enter into the Amendment and Consent, the
Guarantor has agreed to enter into this Guaranty.

1.4   All acts and proceedings required by law and by the articles of
incorporation and by-laws of the Guarantor necessary to constitute this Guaranty
a valid and binding agreement for the uses and purposes set forth herein in
accordance with its terms have been done and taken, and the

<PAGE>

execution and delivery hereof has been in all respects duly authorized by the
Guarantor.

2.  GUARANTY AND OTHER RIGHTS AND UNDERTAKINGS

2.1   Guarantied Obligations.

     The Guarantor, in consideration of the execution and delivery of the
Amendment and Consent by the Noteholders, hereby irrevocably, unconditionally
and absolutely guarantees, on a continuing basis, to each Noteholder, as and for
its own debt, until final and indefeasible payment has been made:

(a)  the due and punctual payment by the Company of the principal of, and
     interest, and the Make Whole Amount (if any) on, the Notes at any time
     outstanding and the due and punctual payment of all other amounts payable,
     and all other indebtedness owing, by the Company to the Noteholders under
     the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes, in each case when and as the
     same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, pursuant to
     mandatory or optional prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise, all in
     accordance with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof; it being the
     intent of the Guarantor that the guaranty set forth herein shall be a
     continuing guaranty of payment and not a guaranty of collection; and

(b)  the punctual and faithful performance, keeping, observance, and
     fulfillment by the Company of all duties, agreements, covenants and
     obligations of the Company contained in the Note Purchase Agreement and the
     Notes.

All of the obligations set forth in clause (a) and clause (b) of this Paragraph
2.1 are referred to herein as the "Guarantied Obligations" and the guaranty
thereof contained herein is referred to herein as the "Unconditional Guaranty".
This Unconditional Guaranty is a primary, original and immediate obligation of
the Guarantor and is an absolute, unconditional, continuing and irrevocable
guaranty of payment and performance and shall remain in full force and effect
until the full, final and indefeasible payment of the Guarantied Obligations.

2.2   Performance Under the Note Purchase Agreement.

     In the event the Company fails to pay, perform, keep, observe, or fulfill
any Guarantied Obligation in the manner provided in the Notes or in the Note

                                       2
<PAGE>

Purchase Agreement, the Guarantor shall cause forthwith to be paid the moneys,
or to be performed, kept, observed, or fulfilled each of such obligations, in
respect of which such failure has occurred in accordance with the terms and
provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes.  In furtherance of the
foregoing, if an Event of Default shall exist, all of the Guarantied Obligations
shall, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Note
Purchase Agreement for the acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, forthwith
become due and payable without notice, regardless of whether the acceleration of
the maturity of the Notes shall be stayed, enjoined, delayed or otherwise
prevented.

2.3   Releases.

     The Guarantor consents and agrees that, without any notice whatsoever to or
by it and without impairing, releasing, abating, deferring, suspending,
reducing, terminating or otherwise affecting its obligations hereunder, each
Noteholder, by action or inaction, may:

(a)  compromise or settle, renew or extend the period of duration or the
     time for the payment, or discharge the performance of, or may refuse to, or
     otherwise not, enforce, or may, by action or inaction, release all or any
     one or more parties to, any one or more of this Guaranty, the Notes, the
     Note Purchase Agreement, any other guaranty or agreement or instrument
     related thereto or hereto;

(b)  assign, sell or transfer, or otherwise dispose of, any one or more of
     the Notes;

(c)  grant waivers, extensions, consents and other indulgences of any kind
     whatsoever to the Company or any other guarantor in respect of any one or
     more of this Guaranty, the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, any other
     guaranty or any agreement or instrument related thereto or hereto;

(d)  amend, modify or supplement in any manner whatsoever and at any time
     (or from time to time) any one or more of the Notes, the Note Purchase
     Agreement, any other guaranty or any agreement or instrument related
     hereto;

(e)  release or substitute any one or more of the endorsers or guarantors of
     the Guarantied Obligations, whether parties hereto or not; and

                                       3
<PAGE>

(f)  sell, exchange, release, surrender or enforce, by action or inaction,
     any property at any time pledged or granted as security in respect of the
     Guarantied Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
     agreements and instruments pursuant to which such property was pledged or
     granted (as such agreements and instruments may be amended from time to
     time, and without any requirement of notice of such amendment to the
     Guarantor), whether so pledged or granted by the Company, the Guarantor or
     another guarantor of the Company's obligations under the Note Purchase
     Agreement, the Notes, any other guaranty or any agreement or instrument
     related hereto.

2.4   Waivers.

     To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantor does hereby waive:

(a)  any notice of

               (i) acceptance of this Unconditional Guaranty;

               (ii) any purchase of the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement,
          or the creation, existence or acquisition of any of the Guarantied
          Obligations, or the amount of the Guarantied Obligations, subject to
          the Guarantor's right to make inquiry of each Noteholder to ascertain
          the amount of the Guarantied Obligations owing to such Noteholder at
          any reasonable time, provided that the Guarantor will look solely to
          the Company for the determination of the identities of the
          Noteholders;

               (iii)  any transfer of Notes from one holder to another;

               (iv) any adverse change in the financial condition of the Company
          or any other fact that might increase, expand or affect the
          Guarantor's risk hereunder;

               (v) presentment for payment, demand, protest, and notice thereof
          as to the Notes or any other instrument;

               (vi) any Default or Event of Default; and

               (vii)  any kind or nature whatsoever to which the Guarantor might
          otherwise be entitled, other than those specifically required to be
          given to the Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Guaranty;

                                       4
<PAGE>

(b)  the right by statute or otherwise to require any Noteholder to
     institute suit against the Company, the Guarantor, or any other guarantor
     or to exhaust the rights and remedies of any Noteholder against the Company
     or any other guarantor, including, specifically (but not limited to) any
     rights the Guarantor might otherwise have had under Virginia Code Sections
     49-25 and 49-26, et. seq. and R.C.G.S. Sections 26-7, et. seq. (and any
                      --  ---                              --  ---
     successor statute);

(c)  the benefit of any stay (except in connection with a pending appeal),
     valuation, appraisal, redemption or extension law now or at any time
     hereafter in force which, but for this waiver, might be applicable to any
     sale of property of the Guarantor made under any judgment, order or decree
     based on this Guaranty, and the Guarantor covenants that it will not at any
     time insist upon or plead, or in any manner claim or take the benefit or
     advantage of such law;

(d)  any defense or objection to the absolute, primary, continuing nature,
     or the validity, enforceability or amount, of this Unconditional Guaranty,
     including, without limitation, any defense based on (and the primary,
     continuing nature, and the validity, enforceability and amount, of this
     Unconditional Guaranty shall be unaffected by), any of the following:

               (i) any change in future conditions;

               (ii)  any change of law;

               (iii)  any invalidity or irregularity with respect to the
          issuance or assumption of any obligations (including, without
          limitation, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes or any agreement or
          instrument related hereto) by the Company or any other Person;

               (iv) the execution and delivery of any agreement at any time
          hereafter (including, without limitation, the Note Purchase Agreement,
          the Notes or any agreement or instrument related hereto) of the
          Company or any other Person;

               (v) the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of
          any of the Guarantied Obligations;

                                       5
<PAGE>

               (vi) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the
          performance of any obligations by the Company or any other guarantor;

               (vii)  any creditors' rights, bankruptcy, receivership or other
          insolvency proceeding of the Company or the Guarantor, or
          sequestration or seizure of any property of the Company or the
          Guarantor, or any merger, consolidation, reorganization, dissolution,
          liquidation or winding up or change in corporate constitution or
          corporate identity or loss of corporate identity of the Company or the
          Guarantor;

               (viii)  any disability or other defense of the Company or the
          Guarantor to payment and performance of all Guarantied Obligations
          other than the defense that the Guarantied Obligations shall have been
          fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid;

               (ix) the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of
          the Company or the Guarantor in respect of the Guarantied Obligations;

               (x) impossibility or illegality of performance on the part of the
          Company under the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes or of the
          Guarantor under this Guaranty;

               (xi) any change in the circumstances of the Company, the
          Guarantor or any other Person, whether or not foreseen or foreseeable,
          whether or not imputable to the Company or the Guarantor, including,
          without limitation, impossibility of performance through fire,
          explosion, accident, labor disturbance, floods, droughts, embargoes,
          wars (whether or not declared), civil commotions, acts of God or the
          public enemy, delays or failure of suppliers or carriers, inability to
          obtain materials, economic or political conditions, or any other
          causes affecting performance, or any other force majeure, whether or
          not beyond the control of the Company or the Guarantor and whether or
          not of the kind hereinbefore specified;

               (xii)  any attachment, claim, demand, charge, Lien, order,
          process, encumbrance or any other happening or event or reason,
          similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, or any withholding or
          diminution at the source, by reason of any taxes, assessments,

                                       6
<PAGE>

          expenses, indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of any character,
          foreseen or unforeseen, and whether or not valid, incurred by or
          against any Person, or any claims, demands, charges, Liens or
          encumbrances of any nature, foreseen or unforeseen, incurred by any
          Person, or against any sums payable under the Note Purchase Agreement
          or the Notes or any agreement or instrument related hereto so that
          such sums would be rendered inadequate or would be unavailable to make
          the payment as herein provided;

               (xiii)  any change in the ownership of the equity securities of
          the Company, the Guarantor or any other Person liable in respect of
          the Notes; or

               (xiv)  any other action, happening, event or reason whatsoever
          that shall delay, interfere with, hinder or prevent, or in any way
          adversely affect, the performance by the Company of any of its
          obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes or of the
          Guarantor under this Guaranty.

2.5   Certain Waivers of Subrogation, Reimbursement and Indemnity.

     Until the Guarantied Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid,
the Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, reimbursement, or indemnity
whatsoever in respect of the Guarantied Obligations, and no right of recourse to
or with respect to any assets or property of the Company.

2.6   Invalid Payments.

     To the extent the Company makes a payment or payments to any Noteholder,
which payment or payments or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required, for any of the
foregoing reasons or for any other reason, to be repaid or paid over to a
custodian, trustee, receiver or any other party or officer under any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or
liquidation law of any jurisdiction, state or federal law, or any common law or
equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment or repayment, the obligation
or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full
force and effect as if said payment had not been made and the Guarantor shall be
primarily liable for such obligation.

                                       7
<PAGE>

2.7   Marshaling.

     Neither any Noteholder nor any Person acting for the benefit of any
Noteholder shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the
Guarantor or against or in payment of any or all of the Guarantied Obligations.

2.8   Subordination.

     In the event that, for any reason whatsoever, the Company or a Person
obligated in respect of the Guarantied Obligations pursuant to another
agreement, is now or hereafter becomes indebted to the Guarantor in any manner
(such indebtedness referred to as an "Affiliate Obligation"), the amount of such
Affiliate Obligation, interest thereon, and all other amounts due with respect
thereto, shall, at all times during the existence of a Default or an Event of
Default, be subordinate as to time of payment and in all other respects to all
the Guarantied Obligations, and the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce
or receive payment thereof until all sums then due and owing to the Noteholders
in respect of the Guarantied Obligations shall have been paid in full, except
that the Guarantor may enforce (and shall enforce, at the request of the
Required Holders, and at the Guarantor's expense) any obligations in respect of
any such Affiliate Obligation owing to the Guarantor from the Company or such
indebted Person so long as all proceeds in respect of any recovery from such
enforcement shall be held by the Guarantor in trust for the benefit of the
Noteholders, to be paid to the Noteholders as promptly as reasonably possible.
If any other payment, other than pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence,
shall have been made to the Guarantor by the Company or such indebted Person on
any such Affiliate Obligation during any time that a Default or an Event of
Default exists and there are Guarantied Obligations outstanding, the Guarantor
shall hold in trust all such payments for the benefit of the Noteholders, to be
paid to the Noteholders as promptly as reasonably possible.

2.9   Setoff, Counterclaim or Other Deductions.

     Except as otherwise required by law, each payment by the Guarantor shall be
made without setoff, counterclaim or other deduction.

2.10   Election by Guarantor to Perform Obligations.

     Any election by the Guarantor to pay or otherwise perform any of the
obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement or any
agreement or instrument related hereto shall not release the Company, the
Guarantor or any other guarantor from such obligations or any of such Person's

                                       8
<PAGE>

other obligations under the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement or any agreement
or instrument related hereto.

2.11   No Election of Remedies by Noteholders.

     To the extent provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, each Noteholder
shall, individually or collectively, have the right to seek recourse against the
Guarantor to the fullest extent provided for herein for the Guarantor's
obligations under this Guaranty in respect of the Guarantied Obligations.  No
election to proceed in one form of action or proceeding, or against any party,
or on any obligation, shall constitute a waiver of such Noteholder's right to
proceed in any other form of action or proceeding or against other parties
unless such Noteholder has expressly waived such right in writing.
Specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no action or
proceeding by any Noteholder against the Company or the Guarantor under any
document or instrument evidencing obligations of the Company or the Guarantor to
such Noteholder shall serve to diminish the liability of the Guarantor under
this Guaranty, except to the extent that such Noteholder finally and
unconditionally shall have realized payment by such action or proceeding.

2.12   Separate Action; Other Enforcement Rights.

     Each of the rights and remedies granted under this Guaranty to each
Noteholder in respect of the Notes held by such Noteholder may be exercised by
such Noteholder without notice by such Noteholder to, or the consent of or any
other action by, any other Noteholder.  Each Noteholder may proceed to protect
and enforce this Unconditional Guaranty by suit or suits or proceedings in
equity, at law or in bankruptcy, and whether for the specific performance of any
covenant or agreement contained herein or in execution or aid of any power
herein granted or for the recovery of judgment for the obligations hereby
guarantied or for the enforcement of any other proper, legal or equitable remedy
available under applicable law.

2.13   Noteholder Setoff.

     Each Noteholder shall have, to the fullest extent permitted by law and this
Guaranty, a right of set-off against any and all credits and any and all other
property of  the Guarantor, now or at any time whatsoever, with or in the
possession of, such Noteholder, or anyone acting for such Noteholder, to ensure
the full performance of any and all obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.

                                       9
<PAGE>

2.14   Delay or Omission; No Waiver.

     No course of dealing on the part of any Noteholder and no delay or failure
on the part of any such Person to exercise any right hereunder shall impair such
right or operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice such Person's
rights, powers and remedies hereunder.  Every right and remedy given by this
Unconditional Guaranty or by law to any Noteholder may be exercised from time to
time as often as may be deemed expedient by such Person.

2.15   Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

     If any Noteholder shall have instituted any proceeding to enforce any right
or remedy under this Unconditional Guaranty or under any Note held by such
Noteholder, and such proceeding shall have been dismissed, discontinued or
abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to such
Noteholder, then and in every such case each such Noteholder, the Company and
the Guarantor shall, except as may be limited or affected by any determination
(including, without limitation, any determination in connection with any such
dismissal) in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to its
respective former positions hereunder and thereunder, and thereafter, subject as
aforesaid, the rights and remedies of such Noteholders shall continue as though
no such proceeding had been instituted.

2.16   Cumulative Remedies.

     No remedy under this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes is
intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, but each and every remedy shall be
cumulative and in addition to any and every other remedy given pursuant to this
Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes.

2.17   Limitation on Guarantied Obligations.

     Notwithstanding anything in Paragraph 2.1 or elsewhere in this Guaranty to
the contrary, the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall at each
point in time be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the greatest amount
that would not result in such obligations being subject to avoidance, or
otherwise result in such obligations being unenforceable, at such time under
applicable law (including, without limitation, to the extent, and only to the
extent, applicable to the Guarantor, Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the
United States of America and any comparable provisions of the law of any other
jurisdiction, any capital preservation law of any jurisdiction and any other law
of any jurisdiction that at such time limits the enforceability of the
obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty).

                                       10
<PAGE>

2.18   Maintenance of Offices.

     The Guarantor will maintain an office at its address set forth in Paragraph
5.3 where notices, presentations and demands in respect of this Guaranty may be
made upon it.  The Guarantor will maintain its office at such address until such
time as the Guarantor shall notify the Noteholders of any change of location of
such office.

2.19   Further Assurances.

     The Guarantor will cooperate with the Noteholders and execute such further
instruments and documents as the Required Holders shall reasonably request to
carry out, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Required Holders, the
transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, this
Guaranty and the documents and instruments related thereto.

3.  INTERPRETATION OF THIS GUARANTY

3.1   Terms Defined.

     As used in this Guaranty, capitalized terms have the meaning specified in
the Note Purchase Agreement unless otherwise specified below or set forth in the
paragraph of this Guaranty referred to immediately following such term (such
definitions, unless otherwise expressly provided, to be equally applicable to
both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

     Acquisition Agreement -- Paragraph 1.2.

     Affiliate Obligation -- Paragraph 2.8.

     Amendment and Consent -- Paragraph 1.3.

     Company -- Paragraph 1.1.

     Existing Note Purchase Agreement -- Paragraph 1.1.

     Fixed Rate Notes -- Paragraph 1.1.

     Guarantied Obligations -- Paragraph 2.1.

     Guarantor -- has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                       11
<PAGE>

     Guaranty, this -- has the meaning assigned to such term in the first
paragraph hereof.

     Note Purchase Agreement -- Paragraph 1.1.

     Noteholders -- Paragraph 1.1.

     Notes -- Paragraph 1.1.

     Unconditional Guaranty -- Paragraph 2.1.

3.2   Paragraph Headings and Construction.

(a)  Paragraph Headings, etc.  The titles of the Paragraphs appear as a
     matter of convenience only, do not constitute a part hereof and shall not
     affect the construction hereof.  The words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder"
     and "hereto" refer to this Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular
     Paragraph or other subdivision.  Unless otherwise specified, references to
     Paragraphs are to Paragraphs of this Guaranty.

(b)  Construction.  Each covenant contained herein shall be construed
     (absent an express contrary provision herein) as being independent of each
     other covenant contained herein, and compliance with any one covenant shall
     not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse
     compliance with one or more other covenants.

4.  WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS

     The Guarantor represents and warrants to each Noteholder, as of the date
hereof, as follows:

4.1   Generally.

(a)  The Guarantor is fully aware of the financial condition of the Company
     and is delivering this Guaranty based solely upon its own independent
     investigation and in no part upon any representation or statement of any
     Noteholder with respect thereto.  The Guarantor is in a position to obtain,
     and hereby assumes full responsibility for obtaining, any

                                       12
<PAGE>

additional information concerning the financial condition of the Company as the
Guarantor may deem material to its obligations hereunder, and the Guarantor is
not relying upon, nor expecting, any Noteholder to furnish it any information
concerning the financial condition of the Company.

(b)  As of the date of the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, the fair
     salable value of the assets of the Guarantor, taken as a whole, exceeds its
     liabilities, taken as a whole; the Guarantor is able to pay and discharge
     all of its debts (including, without limitation, its current liabilities)
     as they become due and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
     by this Guaranty, the Guarantor will not become unable to pay and discharge
     such debts as they become due; there are no presently pending material
     court or administrative proceedings or undischarged judgments against the
     Guarantor; and no tax Liens have been filed or threatened against the
     Guarantor, nor is the Guarantor in default or claimed default under any
     agreement for borrowed money.

(c)  The Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and
     in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.  The
     Guarantor has the corporate power to own its properties and carry on its
     business as it is now being conducted.  The Guarantor has the valid
     authority and the corporate power to enter into and perform, and has taken
     all necessary action to authorize the entry into, and the performance and
     delivery of, this Guaranty and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(d)  This Guaranty has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the
     part of the Guarantor, has been duly executed and delivered by one or more
     duly authorized officers of the Guarantor, and constitutes a legal, valid
     and binding obligation of the Guarantor.

(e)  The entry into and performance of this Guaranty and the transactions
     contemplated hereby do not and will not conflict with any applicable law or
     regulation or official or judicial order, conflict with the articles of
     incorporation or by-laws of the Guarantor, conflict with any agreement or
     document to which the Guarantor is a party or that is binding upon it or
     any of its properties, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
     on any of its properties pursuant to the provisions of any agreement or
     document.

                                       13
<PAGE>

4.2   Solvency.

     The fair value of the business and assets of each of the Company and the
Guarantor will be in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its
liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent, subordinated, unmatured
and unliquidated liabilities on existing debts, as such liabilities may become
absolute and matured), in each case after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Guaranty, the Amendment and Consent and the Stock
Acquisition Agreement.  Neither the Company nor the Guarantor, after giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by this Guaranty, the Amendment and
Consent and the Acquisition Agreement, will be engaged in any business or
transaction, or about to engage in any business or transaction, for which such
Person has unreasonably small assets or capital (within the meaning of
applicable law, including, without limitation, Section 548 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code), and neither the Company nor the Guarantor has any intent to

(a)  hinder, delay or defraud any entity to which it is, or will
     become, on or after the date hereof, indebted, or

(b)  incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as they
     mature.

5.  MISCELLANEOUS

5.1   Successors and Assigns.

(a)  Whenever the Guarantor or any of the parties to the Note Purchase
     Agreement is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the
     successors and assigns of such party, and all the covenants, promises and
     agreements contained in this Guaranty by or on behalf of the Guarantor
     shall bind its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of
     each of the Noteholders from time to time whether so expressed or not and
     whether or not an assignment of the rights hereunder shall have been
     delivered in connection with any assignment or other transfer of Notes.

(b)  The Guarantor agrees to take such action as may be reasonably requested
     by any Noteholder in connection with the transfer of the Notes of such
     Noteholder in accordance with the requirements of the Note Purchase
     Agreement in connection with providing an executed copy of this Guaranty to

                                       14
<PAGE>

the new Noteholder or Noteholders of such Notes, provided that no additional
obligations of the Guarantor shall thereby be created but rather that its
existing obligations shall be more particularly stated in respect of one or more
future Noteholders that are the subject of this Guaranty.

5.2   Partial Invalidity.

     The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision or provisions hereof
shall not render any other provision or provisions contained herein
unenforceable or invalid.

5.3   Communications.

(a)  Method; Address.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing,
     shall be delivered in the manner required by the Note Purchase Agreement,
     and shall be addressed

               (i)  if to the Guarantor, at

                    Smithfield Foods, Inc.
                    200 Commerce Street
                    Smithfield, Virginia  23430
                    Attention:  Mr. C. Larry Pope
                    Fax:  (757) 365-3023,

               (ii) if to a Purchaser, at the address set forth on Annex 1 to
          the Note Purchase Agreement for such Noteholder, and further including
          any parties referred to on such Annex 1 which are required to receive
          notices in addition to such Noteholder, and

               (ii) if to a Noteholder that is not a Purchaser, at the address
          set forth in the register for the registration and transfer of Notes
          maintained pursuant to Paragraph 11N(1) of the Note Purchase Agreement
          for such Noteholder,

     or to any such party at such other address as such party may designate by
     notice duly given in accordance with this Paragraph 5.3.

(b)  When Given.  Any communication addressed and delivered as provided by
     Paragraph 5.3(a) shall be deemed to be received when actually delivered to
     the address of the addressee (whether or not delivery

                                       15
<PAGE>

     is accepted) or received by the telecopy machine of the recipient. Any
     communication not so addressed and delivered shall be ineffective.

5.4   Governing Law.

          THIS GUARANTY IS TO BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS (WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO ANY LAWS OR RULES RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD
CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS).

5.5   Effective Date.

          This Guaranty shall be effective as of the date hereof.

5.6   Benefits of Guaranty Restricted.

          Nothing express or implied in this Guaranty is intended or shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Guarantor and the Noteholders any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect hereof or any
covenant, condition or provision herein contained; and all such covenants,
conditions and provisions are and shall be held to be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the Guarantor and the Noteholders.

5.7   Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement.

          All representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing
by the Guarantor in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery
hereof.

5.8   Expenses.

(a)  The Guarantor shall pay when billed the reasonable costs and expenses
     (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the Noteholders in
     connection with the consideration, negotiation, preparation or execution of
     any amendments, waivers, consents, standstill agreements and other similar
     agreements with respect hereto (whether or not any such amendments,
     waivers, consents, standstill agreements or other similar agreements are
     executed).

                                       16
<PAGE>

(b)  At any time when any one or more of the Company or the Guarantor and
     the Noteholders are conducting restructuring or workout negotiations in
     respect hereof, or a Default or Event of Default exists, the Guarantor
     shall pay when billed the reasonable costs and expenses (including
     reasonable attorneys' fees and the reasonable fees of professional
     advisors) incurred by the Noteholders in connection with the assessment,
     analysis or enforcement of any rights or remedies that are or may be
     available to the Noteholders.

(c)  If the Guarantor shall fail to pay when due any principal of, or Make
     Whole Amount or interest on, any Note, the Guarantor shall pay to each
     Noteholder, to the extent permitted by law, such amounts as shall be
     sufficient to cover the costs and expenses, including but not limited to
     reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by such Noteholder in collecting any
     sums due on the Notes.

5.9   Amendment.

          This Guaranty may be amended only in a writing executed by the
Guarantor and the Required Holders.

5.10   Survival.

          So long as the Guarantied Obligations and all payment obligations of
the Guarantor hereunder shall not have been fully and finally performed and
indefeasibly paid, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall survive the
transfer and payment of any Note and the payment in full of all the Notes.

5.11   Entire Agreement.

          This Guaranty constitutes the final written expression of all of the
terms hereof and is a complete and exclusive statement of those terms.

                                       17
<PAGE>

5.12   Duplicate Originals, Execution in Counterpart.

          Two or more duplicate originals hereof may be signed by the parties,
each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.  This Guaranty may be executed in one or more
counterparts and shall be effective when at least one counterpart shall have
been executed by each party hereto, and each set of counterparts that,
collectively, show execution by each party hereto shall constitute one duplicate
original.

     [Remainder of page intentionally blank.  Next page is signature page.]

                                       18
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be
executed on its behalf by a duly authorized officer of the Guarantor.

                                 SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.

                                 By________________________________
                                 Name:
                                 Title:

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