Privacy Policy – Local Farmers Hub

1. What Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, and profile details when you register.
• Location Data: When you search by location or use map-based features.
• Product Listings & Preferences: If you're a grower, we collect information about your farm, listings, and availability.
• Usage Data: Device information, IP address, browser type, and activity logs, used to improve site performance and security. We record this in limited contexts, such as error logs and feedback submissions.
• Communication Data: Messages sent via the platform, contact forms, or support interactions.
• Notification Data: If you opt in to push notifications, we store what your browser needs to deliver them — a push endpoint, encryption keys, and your browser's user-agent. Push notifications are off by default, and you can turn them off at any time.

We do not collect or store your payment card details directly. Optional premium feature subscriptions are billed through Stripe, a secure third-party payment processor that handles your card information. Local Farmers Hub does not sell products or process sales between users, so payment applies only to premium subscriptions.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Facilitate connections between consumers and growers
• Show relevant products and search results
• Improve our website, algorithms, and services
• Respond to user support or legal inquiries

We will never sell or rent your personal information to third parties, and we don't use it to serve advertising.

3. Sharing of Information

We only share information when:

• You publicly post content (e.g., farm listings, product info)
• You interact directly with another user (e.g., messaging a seller)
• Required by law (court order, subpoena, or government request)
• Needed to detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues

We rely on third-party service providers to operate the platform — for example, Stripe (payment processing for premium subscriptions), Mapbox (address geocoding and map features), our email delivery provider, and Microsoft Azure (secure cloud hosting and image storage). These providers are bound to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in and secure your session
• Remember your preferences

We also keep anonymous counts of page visits to understand how the site is used. These counts contain no cookies and nothing that identifies you.

You can modify your browser settings to disable cookies, though this may affect site functionality.

5. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored on secure servers and protected with industry-standard safeguards, including:

• Encrypted passwords
• HTTPS across the platform
• Access controls for administrative areas

Despite best efforts, no system is 100% secure. Use strong passwords and notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You can:

• View and update your account information
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Opt out of marketing emails (though we may still contact you for transactional reasons)
• Request a copy of the data we've collected about you

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@localfarmershub.com.

7. Children's Privacy

Local Farmers Hub is intended for users age 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe we've collected data from a child, please contact us immediately.

8. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to external sites or services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. Please review their policies separately.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. All changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the site means you accept the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, reach out any time:

📧 Email: contact@localfarmershub.com