10 Things Only People From Fresno Will Understand

1. Everyone In Fresno Has Their “I Met Kopi” Story

You know it’s going to be a Great Day whenever you catch Kopi Sotiropulos’ broadcast on KMPH. Kopi is a grad of Fresno High School himself, and after he left Fresno State, he briefly moonlighted as a character on a couple of hit movies before coming back to tell you that it’s going to be hot, and that it’s not going to rain, again.

2. Nothing Makes A Fresnan Happier Than The Sound Of The Helado Man Heading Down Their Street

Most cities out in California have the paletero/helado man walking around with his truck of ice-cold treats, but Fresno puts him on a pedestal. If your city was as hot as it was, you’d come running any time you heard those bells on his cart ringing, too.

3. Everyone In Fresno Has The World’s Greatest Backyard

It’s not called the “Gateway to Yosemite” for nothing, folks! A few things everyone in Fresno holds to be true: Fresno gets hot in the summer, people in Fresno would rather be enjoying beautiful nature that is not inconvenient to get to, and everyone in Fresno has a car that can ferry them a few miles to their favorite mountainous oasis.

4. Every Fresnan Is A Total Mexican Food Snob

Castillo’s… Don Pepe’s… Even Bobby Salazar’s towers in quality over the Mexican food you’ll find in the rest of the state, and this is California aka home of the world’s best damn Mexican food, we’re talking about.

5. Fresnans Need To Talk To You About Your Ice Bucket Challenge

This year in particular, with the drought and all, Fresno is definitely throwing more shade than Sauron at anyone’s ice bucket challenge videos, whereas their own focus on conservation keeping their local farmers above water would make Mother Teresa weep tears of happiness.

6. Folks In Fresno Think Your “Heat Waves” Are Hilarious

98 degrees in your New York apartment? It hit a 100 in Los Angeles? To Fresno, all they can say is “boo-freaking-hoo.” While summer days in Fresno mean your thermometer will be breaking the triple digits without breaking a sweat—that doesn’t mean you won’t.

7. Everyone In Fresno Knows They Better Get Up At 4 a.m. To Get Fresno State Corn

The award-winning Fresno veggies makes the entire Midwest look like a waste of effort. There’s a bigger scramble for those yellow nuggets every morning then there is to get on the 168.

8. People In Fresno Take Fog Way More Seriously Than San Francisco

Ever hear of fog schedule? Of course not, because your city’s fog is more like a fine mist compared to the blanket that rolls into Fresno some mornings. On these days, the San Joaquin valley gets filled up with a healthy helping of pea soup and some lucky kids get to go to school a little later, depending on the plan of the day.

9. Fresnans Wear Their Neighborhood On Their Sleeve

Everyone has their own idea about Fresno’s separate neighborhoods, but no one knows better than the people that actually live there--and they’ll let you know which side of the city they’re from without blinking an eye. West Fresno vs. Tower District? Compare apples to oranges all you want, but it won’t hurt the pride of folks from those sides of town.

10. Fresnans Take Massive Pride In Having The Best Farmer’s Markets Anywhere

When your backyard is the breadbasket of the world, the Central Valley, it’s no surprise that your farmer’s markets are A) inexpensive and B) not nearly as pretentious as the ones out on the coast, with the designer yoga moms and the bearded hipsters. Chances are you might even know the person selling you that delicious produce. They may even be you. Oh and the produce is so dang good, it will blow the taste buds out of your mouth! Just one more reason Fresnans love to call their city home Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Fresno in the comments below!