Parma business visits

at the cheese plant

the cheese is still made by hand by master cheese makers

the hills of Parma

Yesterday, the students had an awesome visit at the Barilla company.  It is a privately owned family company started in 1877 here in Parma.  Parma is an interesting place and very entrenched in the tradition of the Italian way of eating.  As part of our Barilla experience, we visited a proccuitto (cured ham) processing farm owned by a local man living in the hills of Parma.  They have very strict rules about the process and believe their product is the best in the world becaues of the unique qualities of the air in this location. We also visited a Parmesiana Reggiano plant that supposedly makes the best italian cheese in the world as well.  The italians in Parma obviously have a unique view of food as a tradition worth the effort of supporting local food networks. And of course the pasta plant.  The Barilla company is the largest buyer of wheat in the world, and they make 130 different shapes of pasta!  No photos were allowed at the pasta plant so no pictures of that, sorry. They are protective of their production processes. They fed us lunch and of course we ate pasta.  Dinner at the hotel last night was more pasta. We love it.  We visit Ducati motorcycle plant today and then drive to Florence this afternoon.  More to come.