Mendota, a small city roughly 34 miles west of Fresno, is best known for its cantaloupe production. As the proclaimed "Cantaloupe Center of the World," Mendota is an agricultural hub of roughly 11,000 residents. But while it may be famous for its fruit, Mendota is also emerging as a green energy hub, home to solar power plants and a biomass plant.

The Mendota Wildlife Area, located on the east side of the city, covers 11,800 acres along the San Joaquin River. It protects the flatlands and the floodplain as well as the migratory birds and several threatened and endangered species of plants and animals. The area is popular for fishing, boating, hunting, and wildlife viewing. Other parks include Jess Gill Park and Rojas Pierce Park. There's also a public swimming pool, the Mc Cabe Swimming Pool, located near Jess Gill Park.