HOLT: What's in a city slogan?

While driving home from my annual trip to Los Angeles, a billboard caught my eye: "Madera: Gateway To Yosemite." All I could think was, "Get in line!"

I mean, Manteca, Modesto, Merced, and Fresno all have roads leading directly to Yosemite. Madera, not so much — unless they have a direct road to Yosemite West.

Actually, it was "Selma: Raisin Capital of the World" that got me to thinking. Are they really? Still? I have heard rumors that Fresno is staking a claim.

But now, having myself worked in some raisin fields owned by my church group in Madera, the town of Madera could seriously join in the fight. Selma has the Sun Maid plant in its boundaries, but with its reduction of grapevines in recent years due to drought, pest infestations and building expansion, maybe that has changed.

Not to take anything away from Selma, but such bold declarations could use some weight behind them. Because, let's face it, more of us would like to see positive action happening more often in Riverbank, "the city of …"

So I did some research to get some numbers, because now I'm rooting for Selma to keep the title. According to the 2010 California Raisin Grape Overhead Trellis Report through USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, I found that Fresno County had the most acreage planted in raisin grapes in all of California. Since Selma is located in Fresno County, I think Selma can keep its title, and Fresno County can have its share.

Merced County used to be the sweet potato capital of the world, but that statement has not been made so recently. I looked it up through the USDA and discovered that only Imperial County has listed its sweet potato crop report. So Imperial County can start staking its claim. It will have to fight it out with Vardaman, Miss., who still makes such a claim even though China has increased its production.

Petaluma used to be the "Egg Capital of the World," but sadly, no longer.

Sacramento claims to be the "Camellia Capital of the World," but so does Southern California. However, the Camellia Society of Sacramento has a longer and stronger claim, so I hand it to them.

Some "capitals of the world" I will not dispute. Gilroy can be "Garlic Capital of the World" any day, any time. Bishop can stay the "Mule Packers Capital of the World" quite deservedly. I will not argue with Castroville being "The Artichoke Center of the World."

I had fun browsing Wikipedia's list of city nicknames in California. Clovis, "The Gateway to the Sierra," was a good one. The city does have a highway into the heart of the Sierra high country.

Oh, Modesto! "Water, Wealth, Contentment and Health" is a bit too broad of a statement for me.

Oakdale – "Cowboy Capital of the World" – I don't know about that, you might be fighting Texas on that one (and even I "don't mess with Texas"). I have been to Texas, which has a greater number of cowboys per capita. Oakdale has a great rodeo, though. I hand that one to them. "Cowboy Capital of California"? Yes!

Ah, Madera, you were not listed in Wikipedia at all. Merced had the listing for "Gateway To Yosemite" instead. Selma had its claim as "Raisin Capital of the World" listed, Fresno had no mention at all.

Consider this a chance, Madera, to come up with something original. You have so much going for you — great local motorcycle and car racing, lots of table grapes as well as raisins (No one has claimed table grapes yet!) Think about it. It couldn't hurt to have a stronger claim to fame to distinguish ourselves in this current economy.

Holt is a landscape horticulture graduate of Merced College who divides her time between Merced and Mariposa. E-mail her at columns@modbee.com.