Italian Food producers

Here in the Palouse Country of Eastern Washington and North Central Idaho we grow pasta of enourmous size, also pea soup right on the vine. Any dish made of lentils can be found fully prepared right in the field piping hot or as a dip. Speaking of dips........

It must be April 1st......

Nigel, I saw that BBC documentary, too. I especially enjoyed the singing of the traditional songs as the young women, colourfully dressed, plucked the spaghetti from the trees and draped the strands over their arms. Quite fascinating.

I think guides are mandatory now. Some tourists apparently brought in pots of boiling water and picked the pasta to cook a souvenir meal right there in the orchard!

Well, there you go .... those bloody tourists spoiling things again.

Yes, happy April Fool to you, too, with a very long memory. Richard Dimbleby, the august voice of BBC TV in the second half of the 20th Century, delivered the commentary in his utterly trustworthy fashion. It was broadcast 58 years ago today. Suspicious viewers should have been tipped off by the purported location of the harvest -- Switzerland, not exactly famous for being al dente. Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dimbleby
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti-tree_hoax

(PS: In the same spirit, some time between 1992 and '94, travel journalists in many places, including me, were duped by a joke press release into thinking a charity walk and run was being staged through the soon-to-open Channel tunnel. Oops, should have paid more attention to the date, April 1.)

I read that the spaghetti harvest wasn't great last year. Most of the crop never matured beyond the capellini stage because of drought.

And while you're at the orchard you must go to the Pasta Museum. They have samples of pasta in every shape, size, and color imaginable. There's little pastas in the shapes of all the European countries and all the animals in Europe. The rainbow shaped pasta in all colors of the rainbow is fun to see. And the giant pasta, one slab of pasta makes a whole meal. A definite 'must-see'

Is it true that the trees can be tapped for their sap? My sister's babysitter's piano teacher says the senior workers make spaghetti sauce from the sap.

A classic. It is on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU
Why has this tourist attraction been never recommended by anyone on this site?

Chris, I think we're trying to keep this 'back door' secret to ourselves to avoid it being overrun with rude tourists.

I understand that all of you are having a great time with the spaghetti orchards and all, but you may not be aware of the seriously severe drought conditions faced by many parts of the USA, including hard-hit Califirnia. For a second year in a row, the state's vintners have resorted to selling dried wine.

Just add water.

Just to add to Nancy's post, keep in mind that the Pasta Museum is closed on Mondays.

You must also know that due to security reasons, one will no longer be allowed to enter the museum or the orchards if one is carrying "voluminous" bags --- so leave those bags in your hotel room or at the train station.

It's also a good idea to have your shoulders & knees covered as there are many mosquitoes there, especially if you plan to visit the orchards.

You must also make advance reservations if you want to skip the long lines!

Thanks Nigel ! ;-)

They also have some new rules to be aware of. No videos in the orchards, no flash photos in the museum (gotta protect those historic pastas), absolutely no seflie sticks (new rule). Also be aware there have been a rash of pick-pastas operating in the orchards so be careful.

I heard that Venice is going to ban transportation of that kind of spaghetti in wheeled bags. If this is true, then I will have to change my travel plans.

I forgot to mention that April 1st is 'free admission' day at the Spaghetti Orchards/ Pasta Museum so make sure you get there the night before to reserve your spot.