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The process by which U.S. Tobacco's smokeless tobacco 

 products are manufactured is illustrative. The process begins at 

 U.S. Tobacco's facility with the arrival of the tobacco from 

 farmers. It is then processed for aging in large containers 

 known as hogsheads. After aging, the tobacco is removed from the 

 hogshead and put into bulking bins where it is blended. Blended 

 tobacco from the bulking bins is then cut to the final particle 

 size. Once cut, the tobacco is then dried and sifted. 



As the process continues, water and other ingredients are 

 added. The product next goes into stainless steel cure bins 

 where it is subjected to curing and mixing. 



Once cured, the tobacco is sifted. Flavoring and other 

 ingredients are added during the process. The product is then 

 brought into the packing room where it is packed, labeled and 

 wrapped. Finished rolls are packed into cartons for shipment. 



Over the years, this process has remained substantially the 

 same. Of course, as technology progressed with the times, the 

 machinery used to perform the functions described has become more 

 automated. 



