Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Blue Ridge Farmers Collective ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)
• Account credentials (username and password)
• Vendor business information (farm name, business description, location)
• Payment information for vendor fees
• Profile photos and product images
• Communications you send to us

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and browser type
• Device information and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website addresses
• Search queries and interactions with our platform

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, remember your preferences, and analyze site usage. You can control cookie settings through your browser.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain our services
• Process vendor applications and manage vendor accounts
• Facilitate communication between vendors and customers
• Send market updates, notifications, and announcements
• Improve our website and user experience
• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Prevent fraud and enhance security
• Comply with legal obligations
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 Public Information

Vendor profiles, including business names, descriptions, products, and contact information, are publicly visible on our platform to facilitate connections with customers.

4.2 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us with:

• Payment processing
• Email delivery and communication services
• Website hosting and maintenance
• Analytics and reporting

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails and notifications
• Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where applicable

To exercise these rights, please contact us or manage your settings in your account dashboard.

7. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Vendor data is retained while accounts are active and for a reasonable period afterward for record-keeping purposes.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@blueridgefarmers.com
• Phone: (828) 555-0199
• Address: Blue Ridge Farmers Collective, Blue Ridge Mountains, NC
• Contact Form: Visit our contact page

12. California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.