Tra vincoli federali e autonomie locali: riflessioni giuridiche sui sistemi agroalimentari “alternativi” negli Usa

In the United States, Alternative Food Movements promote local models of food production, distribution, and consumption grounded in sustainability, social justice, and community participation. This paper examines the extent to which the multilayered regulatory framework - federal, state, and local - enables or constrains their capacity to transform agri-food systems toward economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The empirical analysis focuses on two emblematic cases of local governance: Farmers’ Markets and Community Supported Agriculture initiatives. Particular attention is devoted to the Californian context, a pioneering laboratory in the regulation of direct agricultural markets and communitybased farming practices. The tension between local autonomy and federal constraints highlights the legal and institutional challenges inherent in pursuing a more sustainable US agri-food system.