Chehalis is a city of about 7,500 and the seat of Lewis County, just south of Centralia on I-5. The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad runs steam excursions through the valley, the Veterans Memorial Museum honors service members, and the Southwest Washington Fair, one of the state’s oldest, takes place each summer at the fairgrounds between the two cities. Forchetta’s wholesale fresh pasta program lets Chehalis restaurants and caterers inquire about bronze-die pasta.
Chehalis has diners, Mexican and Asian kitchens, pizza and cafés, with county workers supporting weekday lunch. Fair week brings heavy catering demand. Fresh or frozen pasta suits small local kitchens.