Nuovi modelli per l’associazionismo di produttori nella valorizzazione del formaggio di alpeggio Toma di Lanzo (Torino)

In mountain areas, agricultural productions of small farms could represent a significant component of economic sustainability. Although the products of the livestock farms represent the main agri-food exchange between mountain areas and cities, the research about the producers of the alpine vaccine cheese “Toma di Lanzo” has shown a modest networking among the farmers and the presence of a local market incapable of reaching consumers in the nearby metropolitan area of Turin. The organization of the farms, based on the family and traditional dimension, has highlighted structural limits in terms of innovation and marketing. In 2013, through the registration of the brand "Toma di Lanzo", the Association of producers has been created. The last president of the Association, not a producer but a small trader of the valley, has played an effective role of coordination of the breeders involved in the development of a strategy for the cheese and for the Lanzo valleys. The new organizational asset facilitated the relationship with the territorial technical authorities and favoured the acquisition of the label of certified supply chain. This event created the conditions for a local development project based on local inhabitants.