EXHIBIT 99.1
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                                  Certification

            Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

              (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63
                        of Title 18, United States Code)

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C.  1350), the
undersigned officer of SonomaWest Holdings,  Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company"),  does hereby certify that:

The  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  March 31, 2003 (the
"Form 10-Q") of the Company  fully  complies  with the  requirements  of section
13(a) or 15(d), as applicable,  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and that
the  information  contained  in the Form 10-Q fairly  presents,  in all material
respects,  the  financial  condition  and results of  operations of the Company.


Dated: May 13, 2003


                                  /s/ Roger S. Mertz
                                -----------------------------------------
                                Roger S. Mertz
                                Chairman of the Board


A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided  to  SonomaWest  Holdings,  Inc.  and will be  retained  by  SonomaWest
Holdings,  Inc. and furnished to the Securities  and Exchange  Commission or its
staff upon request.


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