Sound like your seed has gotten crossed with a shelling pea (English pea).

"Bob F" wrote in message
...
This years crop for me is really bad, especially the snap peas. You pick
them, even ones that are still small, and eat them. Chew, chew, chew, and
you end up with a mouthful of green fiber.

I am using the same bed as alternating previous years, with no real change
in my technique as far as I know. The weather here in Seattle was, and
mostly continues to be cool this year.