Board of Directors

Jeff Fortune is a third generation California farmer and the second generation Westlands farmer. He is a “boots on the ground” farmer with more than four decades of farming experience. Jeff works alongside his father and two brothers at their family farm growing tomatoes, almonds, and pistachios.

Frank Coelho is a third generation farmer in Westlands since 1969. He, along with several family members, farms in the Five Points area. Their crops consist of processing tomatoes, wine grapes, almonds, cotton, garlic, and garbanzo beans.

Jeremy Hughes, a fifth-generation farmer, has farmed in the District for over 25 years with his family. Mr. Hughes started the company that bears his name in 1997, farming various row crops including processing tomatoes, almonds, and pistachios. Mr. Hughes lives in Clovis with his wife and two children.

William Bourdeau is from a fourth generation Westside family. He was born and raised in Coalinga and served as a local city councilman. He is the executive vice president of Harris Farms in Coalinga which grows several crops annually including lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, onions, melons, almonds, pistachios and wine grapes.

Jim Anderson is a fifth-generation farmer in Westlands who farms with members of his family including his grandfather, mother and sister. Depending upon water supply, he farms lettuce, cotton, tomatoes, garlic, wheat, barley, corn, almonds and wine grapes.

Ross Franson’s family has farmed in Westlands since the District’s formation in 1952. Mr. Franson’s family grows almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, and other row crops. The family business also operates almond and tomato processing facilities in the District. Mr. Franson currently resides in Fresno with his wife and three children.

Ernie Costamagna is a third-generation family farmer in California. He began farming in Westland’s in the 1980’s. His farming operation is comprised of nuts, wine grapes, cherries, garlic, onions, cotton and processing tomatoes. He is a resident of Hanford CA with his wife and has 7 children.

Justin Diener continues to work in the same area his family began farming in the 1930s. Mr. Diener, with his family, grows processing tomatoes, garlic, almonds, and lemons and raises lambs. Mr. Diener lives in Five Points, where he was born and raised, with his wife and daughter.

Kevin Assemi’s family has proudly farmed in Westlands for two generations. Kevin, along with his family, grows mostly pistachios, almonds, raisins, and row crops.