Case Law Index Local Food Systems
January 1, 2002 – September 1, 2024
This index provides a comprehensive though not necessarily exhaustive compilation of reported and unreported federal and state court decisions involving local food systems that were decided between the dates listed above. The cases are listed in reverse chronological order. The “Text” link goes to the freely available Google Scholar text of the opinion. These listings are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for legal counsel.
SUPREME COURT
Nat’l Pork Producers Council v. Ross, 598 U.S. 356 (2023) (upholding a California law that forbids the sale of pork that comes from animals not raised in compliance with Proposition 12). Text
Horne v. Dep’t of Agric., 569 U.S. 513, 133 S. Ct. 2053, 186 L. Ed. 2d 69 (2013) (producers v. handlers subject to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act, Farmer-to Consumer Direct Marketing Act, raisins) Text
Nat’l Meat Ass’n, Petitioner v. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General of California, et al, 132 S. Ct. 965, 565 U.S. 452 (2012) (Whether the FMIA (Federal Meat Inspection Act) preempts California’s penal code against federally inspected slaughterhouses) Text
Monsanto Co. et al., v. Geertson Seed Farms et al., 130 S. Ct. 2743, 561 U.S. 139 (2010) (challenging APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)’s decision to approve the unconditional deregulation of a variety of alfalfa that has been genetically engineered to tolerate the herbicide roundup) Text
Johanns v. Livestock Marketing Assn., 544 U.S. 550 (2005) (whether a federal program that finances generic advertising for agricultural product violates the 1st Amendment) Text
FIRST CIRCUIT
Triumph Foods, LLC v. Campbell, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19456 (D. Mass. Feb. 5, 2024) (upholding a Massachusetts law similar to Proposition 12 in National Pork, but severing the slaughterhouse exception from the law because it violates the Dormant Commerce Clause) Text
Shire City Herbals, Inc. v. Blue, 410 F.Supp.3d 270 (D. Mass. Sept. 30, 2019) (trademark infringement for herbal dietary supplemental drink) Text
B&R Produce Packing Co., Inc. et al. v. A&H Farms, Inc. et al. (D. NH, May 27, 2014) (breach of contract of produce, which involves a violation of PACA (Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act)) Text
SECOND CIRCUIT
Gamm v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., 944 F. 3d 455 (Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, Dec 10, 2019) (chicken producers’ agreements to keep their supply low and prices high by dumping to foreign countries) Text
Organic Seed growers and trade ass’n v. Monsanto Co., 851 F.Supp.2d 544 (S.D.N.Y. Feb 24, 2012) (transgenic seeds, Roundup Ready and patent issues) Text
Kampfer v. Reu, No. 6:08-CV-708, 2011 WL 572431, at *1 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 15, 2011) (removal from a farmer’s market) Text
THIRD CIRCUIT
E. Armata, Inc. v. 27 Farmers Mkt., Inc., No. CIVA 08-5212 KSH, 2009 WL 2386074, at *1 (D.N.J. July 31, 2009) (non-payment for perishable goods) Text
Freeman v. Fischer, 563 F.Supp.2d 493 (D.N.J. 2008) (dormant commerce clause challenge to state liquor distribution law) Text
Reichley v. PA Dep’t of Agri., 427 F.3d 236 (3rd Cir. 2005) (Dep’t of Agri.’s authority re: Domestic Animal Law) Text
FOURTH CIRCUIT
Clement v. Satterfield, 927 F. Supp. 2d 297 (W.D. Va. 2013) (denial of opportunity to become vendor at farmer’s market) Text
Hill v. Courter III, 344 F.Supp.2d 484 (E.D. Va. 2004) (challenging inspection of goat cheese) Text
FIFTH CIRCUIT
Cohrs v. Agrilogic Ins. Servs., LLC, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108317 (S.D. Tex. May 8, 2024) (holding that the Federal Arbitration Act’s deadline to file a motion to vacate an arbitration award applies to crop insurance policies and cannot be superseded by a conflicting contractual deadline) Text
Knapp v. US Dept. of Agriculture, 796 F. 3d 445 (Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 2015) (unlawful selling of animals in violation of the AWA (Animal Welfare Act)) Text
Siesta Vill. Mkt., LLC v. Perry, 530 F.Supp.2d 848 (N.D. Tex. 2008) (challenge to state scheme regulating distribution of out of state wine) Text
SIXTH CIRCUIT
Miller v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 165 (6th Cir. Jan. 3, 2023) (rejecting a farmer’s challenge to a Federal Crop Insurance Corporation determination because it was not arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act)
Bachman Sunny Hill Fruit Farms, Inc. v. Producers Agric. Ins. Co., 57 F.4th 536 (6th Cir. 2023) (affirming the dismissal of a farmer’s motion to nullify an arbitration award when it did not comply with the substance or time limits of the Federal Arbitration Act)
U.S. v. Coffman, 652 F. Supp. 3d (6th Cir. 2023) (holding that American ginseng is a “common food crop” under the Lacey Act because it is listed in CITES and is protected by Ohio law)
Ackerman v. US Dep’t of Agri., 995 F.3d 528 (2021) (confusing dry-bean crop insurance of two states, MI and MN) Text
Country Mill Farms, LLC v. City of E. Lansing, No. 1:17-CV-487, 2017 WL 11444048, at *1 (W.D. Mich. Sept. 15, 2017) (denial of vendor’s application for farmer’s market) Text
Prater v. City of Jackson, Tennessee, No. 1:05-CV-1342, 2007 WL 9710159, at *1 (W.D. Tenn. Aug. 16, 2007) (challenging the exclusion from a farmer’s market)
SEVENTH CIRCUIT
Brewer v. Town of Eagle, — F.Supp.3d —, 2021 WL 3473243 (E.D. Wis. 2021) (Community supported agriculture zoning) Text
Lovette-Cephus v. Vill. of Park Forest, 587 F. App’x 983 (7th Cir. 2014) (Action for imposing stricter business-licensing requirements on proposed bakery) Text
EIGHTH CIRCUIT
Turtle Island Foods v. Thompson, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60040 (W.D. Mo. Mar. 26, 2024) (upholding a Missouri law that prohibits misrepresenting food as “meat” when it is not derived from harvested livestock or poultry)
Foster v. Vilsack, 820 F.3d 330 (8th Cir. 2016) (Food security, local area soil regulation) Text
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Def. Fund v. Sebelius, No C 10-4018-MWB, 2012 WL 219376 (N.D. Iowa 2012) (denial of request for injunction against FDA) Text
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Def. Fund v. Sebelius, 734 F. Supp. 2d 668 (N.D. Iowa 2010) (challenging validity of FDA regulations on milk packaging form) Text
Stahl v. US Dept. of Agri, 327 F. 3d 695 (8th Cir. 2003) (farmers & ranchers challenging USDA’s maximum amount collectible under the agreement) Text
NINTH CIRCUIT
M&T Farms v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 103 F.4th 724 (9th Cir. 2024) (holding that a partnership selling its partners’ products and holding their goodwill and business name is engaged in “farming activity” under section 3(a)(4) of the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Pilot (WFRP) Policy)
In re Bussman, 2023 Bankr. LEXIS 881 (Or. Bankr. Ct. Mar. 31, 2023) (granting a motion to dismiss because a debtor was not eligible for chapter 12 relief as he did not qualify as a family farmer under 11 U.S.C.S. § 101(18)).
Theodoropoulos v. Cty. of Los Angeles, No. 219CV00417JGBKES, 2019 WL 5978876 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 13, 2019) (challenging excessive fees on vendors) Text
Mahgerefteh v. City of Torrance, 324 F. Supp. 3d 1121 (C.D. Cal. 2018) (constitutionality of municipal code relating to the farmers’ market) Text
Black Star Farms, LLC v. Oliver, 544 F.Supp.2d 913 (D. Ariz. 2008) (challenge to state scheme regulating distribution of out of state wine) Text
Lion Raisins Inc. v. US Dept of Agri., 354 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir. 2004) (Lion falsifying inspection certificates) Text
TENTH CIRCUIT
Ranchers Cattlemen Action v. US Dep’t of Agriculture (35 F.4th 1225, 2005) (compliance with FACA’s procedural requirements), Text
Randleas v. Neece, No. 00-1424-JTM, 2002 WL 226401 (D. Kan. Feb. 8, 2002) (termination from farmer’s market cooperative)
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
United States v. Ocala Live Stock Mkt., Inc., 861 F. Supp. 2d 1328 (M.D. Fla. 2012) (selling livestock in violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act) Text
Levin v. City of Palm Beach Gardens City Attorney’s Office ex rel. Tatum, 303 Fed. App’x 847 (11th Cir. 2008) (alleging discriminatory farmers market classifications) Text
D.C. CIRCUIT
McAfee v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, — F.Supp.3d —, 2021 WL 2073402 (D.D.C. 2021) (required pasteurization of butter) Text
District of Columbia v. U.S. Dep’t of Agri., 496 F.Supp.3d 213 (D.D.C. 2020) (USDA limiting state implemented waivers of work requirements for SNAP eligibility) Text
Food & Water Watch, Inc. v. Vilsack, 808 F.3d 905 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (challenging poultry-processing inspection process) Text
PETA V. US Dep’t of Agri., 797 F.3d 1087 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (USDA’s execution of Animal Welfare Act re: birds) Text
American Meat Insti.et al. v. US Dep’t of Agri, 760 F.3d 18 (D.C. Cir. 2014) (mandates disclosure of country-of-origin information on meat products) Text
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund v. Vilsack, 636 F.Supp.2d 116 (D.D.C. 2009) (challenging the National Animal Identification System) Text
Munsell, et al v. U.S. Dep’t of agri., 509 F.3d 572 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (Plaintiff Challenged USDA enforcement Directive and Seeking Protections from Future Acts of Retaliation by FSIS Officials) Text
Nat’l Women, Infants, & Children Grocers Ass’n v. Food & Nutrition Serv., 416 F.Supp.2d 92 (D.D.C. 2006) (WIC; small business) Text
Nat’l Women, Infants, & Children Grocers Ass’n v. Food & Nutrition Serv., Civ.A. 05-2432(EGS), 2005 WL 3576840 (D.D.C. Dec. 29, 2005) (WIC; enjoined)
ARIZONA
A & P Ranch Ltd. V. Cochise Cnty., 2024 Ariz. Tax LEXIS 7 (June 17, 2024) (construing a statute to disallow separate valuation of permanent crops from the agricultural land)
CALIFORNIA
City of Santa Clarita v. Jacky, 2023 Cal. Super. LEXIS 94517 (Cal. Super. Ct. Oct. 31, 2023) (holding that a city ordinance requiring licensing and permitting of sidewalk food vendors is not preempted by state law)
California Grocers Assn. v. City of Los Angeles, 52 Cal. 4th 177, 254 P.3d 1019 (2011) (labor and employment, preemption with city employment and health and safety codes) Text
Clasby v. McColm, No. B209008, 2010 WL 312523 (Cal. Ct. App. Jan. 28, 2010) (exclusion from operating in farmers’ market) Text
Bronco Wine Co. v. Jolly, 129 Cal. App. 4th 988 (Cal. Ct. App., 2005) (geographic labeling, wine) Text
CONNECTICUT
Szynkowicz v. State, 65 Conn. L. Rptr. 777, 2018 WL 1041506 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2018) (farm stand insurance)
Eldridge v. Town of Stafford Planning and Zoning Commission, 2018 WL 7046889 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2018) (farm stands and zoning)
Pukonen v. Guilford Planning & Zoning Com’n, No. NNHCV136039560S, 2015 WL 1086869 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2015) (farm stand special use permit)
Caparaso v. Prospect Zoning Bd. Of Appeals, No. UWYCV126012856S, 2013 WL 2383607 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2013) (Community Supporting Agriculture zoning)
Zanette v. Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals, 2006 WL 3316770 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2006) (farm stands and zoning)
Abrams v. Jones, 2005 WL 1331232 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2005) (product liability, apple cider)
Messina v. Fifty Acres, L.L.C., 2004 WL 945058 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2004) (farm stands and zoning)
FLORIDA
Morris v. Fifty-Fifty, Inc., 2023 Fla. Cir. LEXIS 4999 (Nov. 8, 2023) (holding that a farmers market fulfilled its duty to a business invitee by placing signs around the uneven concrete that caused her to fall and led to her injury)
GEORGIA
Newton v. Jacobs, 854 S.E. 2d 359 (Ga. Ct. of App, 2021) (burning off crop residue, its effect on neighboring farms, and application of Burning Act) Text
Ga. Dep’t of Agric. v. Brown, 607 S.E.2d 259 (Ga. Ct. App. 2004) (revocation of license to sell at farmers’ market) Text
ILLINOIS
LMP Services, Inc., et al. v. The City of Chicago, 160 N.E.3d 822 (Ill. 2019) (challenging anti food truck ordinance) Text
LMP Services Inc. v. The City of Chicago, 95 N.E.3d 1259 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017) (challenging anti food truck ordinance) Text
INDIANA
Daily v. Columbus Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 909 N.E.2d 1038 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (denial of temporary use permit for a farmers’ market) Text
Daily v. Columbus Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 904 N.E.2d 343 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (denial of temporary use permit for a farmers’ market) Text
Westfield Cos. v. Knapp, 804 N.E.2d 1270 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (personal injury on-farm) Text
LOUISIANA
Cargill, Incorporated v. Syngenta Seeds, 355 So. 3d 103 (La. Ct. App. 2022) (La. Law about recovering damages based on predictions of a “reasonable probable” government action) Text
French Market Vendors Ass’n, Inc. v. French Market Corp., 155 So.3d 514 (La. Ct. App. 2013) (farmer’s market vendor rules) Text
MAINE
State v. Brown, 95 A.3d 82 (Me. 2014) (violations of state licensing and labeling laws) Text
Harvey v. Veneman, No. CIV. 02-216-P-H, 2003 WL 22327171, at *15 (D. Me. Oct. 10, 2003) (Organic Farm Program Act inhibits local food production)
MARYLAND
Pizza di Joey, LLC v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 209 A.3d 184 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2019) (food truck ordinance) Text
Oyarzo v. Md. Dep’t of Health & Mental Hygiene, 978 A.2d 804 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2009) (ban on selling raw milk; farmer precluded from selling shares in herd for raw milk) Text
MASSACHUSETTS
Cmty. Involved in Sustaining Agric., Inc. v. Bd. of Assessors of Deerfield, 86 Mass. App. Ct. 1119, 19 N.E.3d 866 (2014) (local food donation, taxation) Text
Teti v. Town of Sherborn, Nos. 09 MISC 414330(KFS), 2013 WL 6410547 (Mass. Land Ct. 2013) (farm stand zoning)
Town of Uxbridge ex rel. Girouard v. Vecchione, 21 Mass.L.Rptr. 307, (Mass. Super. Ct. 2006) (farm stand and zoning, loam removal)
DiGiovanni v. Gulberg, 2005 WL 1593608 (Mass. Land Ct. 2005) (farm stand and zoning)
Stephens v. Zoning Bd. Of Appeals of Groton, 781 N.E.2d 71 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003) (farm stand zoning)
MICHIGAN
Salmon v. City of Cadillac, 2005 WL 3416119 (Mich. Ct. App. 2005) (exclusion from farmers’ market)
Village of Rothbury v. Double JJ Resort Ranch, Inc., 2004 WL 1837835 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004) (zoning and Right to Farm Act)
MINNESOTA
Astramecki v. Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture, No. A14-1367, 2015 WL 2341509 (Minn. Ct. App. 2015) (Minnesota food handlers licensing) Text
Minnesota v. Hartmann, 700 N.W.2d 449 (Minn. 2005) (inspection of custom-processed meat) Text
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Forster v. Town of Henniker, 167 N.H. 745, 118 A.3d 1016 (2015) (appeal of town zoning board of adjustment determination) Text
Carter v. Concord Gen. Mut. Ins. Co., 924 A.2d 411 (N.H. 2007) (personal injury and hayrides) Text
NEW JERSEY
Re: Russo v. Township of Plumsted (Tax Ct. of NJ, 2022) (NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s prohibition of recycling, solid waste, and industrial activities on the land) Text
NJSPCA v. NJ Dept of Agri., 955 A. 2d 886 (N.J. Sup. Ct. 2008) (NJ Dept of Agri’s Mandate re: humane handling of domestic livestock) Text
NEW YORK
City of New York v. Ball, (holding that state law supersedes a local law banning the sale of foie gras in New York City restaurants and retail food stores) 2024 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2551 (Sup. Ct. June 21, 2024))
OHIO
Erie Ins. Exchange v. Bullock, 55 N.E.3d 460 (Ohio Ct. App, 2015) (property/fire insurance and local egg sales) Text
Stowers v. Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, No. 10CA009782, 2011 WL 2176512 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011) (unlicensed local food retailer) Text
A & Q Mkt., Inc. v. Liquor Control Comm., 2009-Ohio-5783 (revoking liquor permit holder’s liquor license) Text
Auchi v. Ohio Liquor Control Comm’n, 2003-Ohio-7233 (appeal from decision of the state Liquor Control Commission) Text
OREGON
Central Oregon Locavore v. Deschutes County Assessor, No. TC-MD 170319G, 2018 WL 6253813 (Or. Tax Magistrate Div. 2018) (non-profit local food store tax exemption) Text
Greenfield v. Multnomah County, 317 P.3d 274 (Or Ct. App. 2013) (Oregon’s farm stand statute) Text
PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster Agri. Preserve Bd. v. Fryberger, 257 A. 3d 192 (2021) (Pa. Cmmw. Ct. 2021) (irrigation easement and building a sewage disposal system) Text
Schaal v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 870 A.2d 952 (Pa. Cmmw. Ct. 2005) (agricultural labor and unemployment) Text
VERMONT
Agency of Natural Resources v. McGee, 151 A. 3d 1240 (Vt. 2016) (penalty against unpermitted fill in wetland) Text
In re Fuad Ndibalema SNF Freshstart, LLC, No. 2016-049, 2016 WL 5921035 (Vt. 2016) (fair stand license suspension) Text
VIRGINIA
Wetlands Trust v. White Cloud Nine Ventures, 782 S.E.2d 131 (Sup. Ct. of Va, 2016) (conservation easement regarding wetlands) Text
Hill v. Commonwealth, 624 S.E.2d 666 (Va. Ct. App. 2006) (searches and seizures; goat cheese manufacturing) Text
WISCONSIN
Young Minds Christian Preparatory Sch. v. Wisconsin Dep’t of Pub. Instruction, 2015 WI App 37, 363 Wis. 2d 655, 862 N.W.2d 902 (repay funds under National School Lunch Program) Text
Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ, Inc. v. State Dep’t of Pub. Instruction, 2015 WI App 13, 359 Wis. 2d 675, 859 N.W.2d 629 (reimbursements for its school meals program) Text
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund v. Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, 356 Wis.2d 829 (Wis. Ct. App. 2014) (right to consume unpasteurized milk) Text
Meyer v. Town of Milton, 268 Wis.2d 844 (Wis. Ct. App. 2003) (farm stand and zoning) Text