FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Donald Trump appealed to local growers during his Fresno campaign stop, demanding more water for farmers.
While flanked by a sea of "Farmers for Trump" signs, the presidential candidate announced his support for valley growers within minutes of hitting the stage.
The candidate spent 30 minutes before the rally meeting with local growers.
Harris Farms' executive vice president William Bourdeau says it was an honor to meet face to face with Donald Trump and talk to him about the Valley's agriculture.
"From water to regulation to immigration all the things that we have a lot of challenges but American ingenuity and our spirit we're capable of overcoming anything," Bourdeau said.
He touched on his meeting with farmers during his speech.
"I just met with a lot of the farmers who are great people," Trump told the crowd. "And they're saying they don't even understand it. Nobody understands it. And I've heard this from other friends of mine in California where they have farms up here and they don't get water."
"Amazing, it's an honor for any presidential candidate to have some quality time with them it's quite an honor," Bourdeau said.
Bourdeau called Trump's visit and being in his presence "electric." He felt Trump really understood the issues farmers face and wants to help them.
"He has businesses in California he has friends that live in California friends that are farmers so he spoke about specifics," Bourdeau said. "About things he's talked to about people that are close to him that he has relationships with."
Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes was one of many who voiced the ag industry's concerns about current water restrictions.
"This isn't about a drought, even above average year in northern California," Mendes said. "We still aren't getting water down here like we should get, not even close."
Mendes said Trump seemed to understand the Valley's plight.
The candidate later accusing state officials of denying water to farmers so they can protect a particular species of fish.
"Donald Trump isn't owned by the far environment left," Mendes said. "He's common sense."
But while growers say they are comforted by Trump's stance on water, immigration is still up in the air.
"To say you are going to remove everybody is the destruction of this country's economic base," Nisei Farmers League president Manuel Cunha exclaimed.