Case Law Index Local Food Systems

January 1, 2002 – September 13, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)


CALIFORNIA

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)


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


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