Farmers begin to grow specialty crops and the Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe enjoyed a national reputation for unmatched sweetness and flavor. Cantaloupe was shipped to all of the finest restaurants in the country. For 15 years, the Lahontan Valley is known as the "King of Cantaloupe." Hybrids developed in the Imperial Valley in California soon replaced the Heart of Gold and farmers turned back to growing alfalfa. Today, warm weather and altitude combine to produce high protein alfalfa that is exported to California and Japan.