EXHIBIT 99.1


                           SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS ENGAGES
                   GRANT THORNTON LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


July 10, 2002


NEWS RELEASE


Contact: Thomas R. Eakin, Chief Financial Officer (707) 824-2001


SEBASTOPOL,  CA  ....................  SonomaWest Holdings,  Inc. (NASDAQ: SWHI)
(formerly  Vacu-dry  Company) today announced that it has engaged Grant Thornton
LLP as its  independent  auditors  for the  fiscal  year  ended  June  30,  2002
replacing  Arthur  Andersen  LLP in that  capacity  effective  immediately.  The
decision to dismiss  Arthur  Andersen and engage  Grant  Thornton was made after
careful consideration by the Audit Committee of the SonomaWest Holdings Board of
Directors.  The  decision  was  not  the  result  of  any  disagreement  between
SonomaWest  Holdings and Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting  principles
or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

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