This Privacy Policy describes how we handle information when you visit or use TheRoadApple.com, the Local Farm & Food Guide, our directories, maps, accounts, memberships, events, articles, newsletters, advertising services, website and marketing services, forms, communications, and other websites, applications, features, products, or services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Services”).
The Road Apple operates in the United States and may provide Services to users, farms, businesses, advertisers, organizations, and customers throughout the United States.
By accessing or using the Services, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with The Road Apple. We may collect information directly from you, automatically through your use of the Services, from businesses and organizations, from service providers and integrations, and from publicly available sources.
Information You Provide Directly
- Name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Mailing address
- Business address
- City, state, and ZIP code
- Username or account information
- Farm, organization, or business name
- Business contact information
- Website address
- Social media profiles
- Business category or industry
- Business descriptions
- Product and service information
- Hours of operation
- Buying and fulfillment options
- Photos, logos, videos, and other media
- Event information
- Farm or business listing information
- Listing ownership or verification information
- Membership information
- Advertising inquiry and campaign information
- Website and marketing service inquiry information
- Customer service communications
- Newsletter and marketing preferences
- Information provided through surveys, forms, questionnaires, promotions, or other communications
- Other information you choose to provide
You are responsible for ensuring that you have the authority to provide information submitted to The Road Apple, including information concerning a business, organization, event, employee, representative, or other individual.
Visitor Accounts
Visitors may be able to create accounts to save favorite farms or businesses, save events, manage preferences, receive personalized or location-relevant information, manage subscriptions or communications, and access other account-based features we may introduce.
We may collect information necessary to establish, authenticate, maintain, secure, and administer these accounts. Authentication may be provided through password-based login, magic links, third-party authentication providers, or other authentication technology. Authentication credentials may be processed by our authentication service providers. The Road Apple does not need to have direct access to readable passwords in order to operate an account.
Farm, Producer, and Business Accounts
Farm owners, producers, agricultural businesses, eligible businesses, and their authorized representatives may create accounts to create or claim listings, verify listings, edit listing information, manage photos and content, update product availability, manage events, manage membership features, access paid features, communicate with The Road Apple, and access other business tools we may make available.
We may associate account information with the relevant farm, business, organization, membership, or listing.
Directory Listings and Public Information
The Local Farm & Food Guide is designed to make certain farm, producer, business, and organization information publicly discoverable.
Information intended for a public listing may include:
- Farm or business name
- Business category
- General or specific location
- Public business address
- Telephone number
- Public email address
- Website
- Social media links
- Hours
- Products
- Services
- Buying options
- Seasonal availability
- Photos
- Logos
- Business descriptions
- Events
- Frequently asked questions
- Membership or listing status
- Verification or other applicable badges
- Other information intended for public display
Information published in a public listing can be viewed by other users and may be indexed, cached, copied, or otherwise processed by search engines, AI systems, internet archives, social media services, and other third parties outside The Road Apple's control.
Do not submit information for public display that you do not want publicly available. Where The Road Apple provides address or contact privacy controls, we will use the selected settings to determine what information is displayed through our Services.
Information From Public Sources
The Road Apple may create or maintain directory records using information obtained from publicly available or lawfully accessible sources, including official business websites, public social media pages, government records, public agricultural directories, public business directories, public event information, organizations and associations, and other publicly available sources. A farm or business may appear in the Guide before its owner creates an account or claims the listing. We may identify such listings as unclaimed, unverified, or otherwise distinguish them from owner-managed listings. Business owners or authorized representatives may contact us regarding inaccurate public listing information or available claim, correction, or removal options.
Listing Claims and Verification
When a person claims or seeks to verify a farm or business listing, we may request information reasonably necessary to confirm identity, authority to represent the business, business ownership or affiliation, business operations, eligibility under our listing guidelines, and accuracy of submitted information. Verification information may include documentation or other evidence. Information collected solely for verification is not ordinarily displayed publicly unless it is separately intended for the public listing. Verification by The Road Apple relates to our directory processes and does not necessarily constitute governmental licensing, certification, inspection, endorsement, or verification of every statement made by a listed business.
Free and Paid Memberships
The Road Apple may offer free listings, paid memberships, promotional memberships, founding memberships, upgrades, add-ons, premium features, and other subscription or membership options. We may collect and process account information, business information, membership level, subscription status, billing information, transaction records, renewal information, discounts or promotional eligibility, membership benefits and usage, and administrative communications. We may use this information to administer the membership, provide purchased features, process renewals, communicate about the account, maintain financial records, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations.
Payments and Billing Information
Payments may be processed through third-party payment processors. Depending on the payment method and processor, payment information may include name, billing address, payment card information, bank or payment account information, transaction amount, payment status, and transaction identifiers. Full payment-card details may be collected and processed directly by a payment processor rather than stored by The Road Apple. We may receive limited payment and transaction information necessary to confirm payments, manage memberships, maintain accounting records, issue refunds where applicable, resolve billing matters, and administer Services. Payment processors operate under their own privacy and security practices.
Events and Event Submissions
Farms, businesses, FFA chapters, 4-H programs, agricultural organizations, community organizations, and other eligible parties may submit events. We may collect submitter name, organization, email, telephone number, event information, event location, event dates and times, photos or promotional materials, verification information, and other information necessary to review or publish the event. We may use this information to review submissions, verify information, contact the submitter, administer the event listing, and publish approved event information. Information specifically submitted for public event promotion may be displayed publicly and may also be promoted through Road Apple communications, social media, newsletters, or other promotional channels as appropriate.
Youth Agricultural Programs and Events
The Road Apple supports agricultural youth organizations and programs, including FFA, 4-H, and other approved agricultural youth activities. When possible and appropriate, information involving minors should be submitted by an authorized adult, advisor, organization representative, parent, or guardian. We do not request that users publicly post unnecessary personal information about minors. Event organizers and submitters are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate authority and permissions to provide event information, photographs, names, or other materials submitted to The Road Apple.
Advertising
The Road Apple may offer advertising opportunities directly to approved advertisers. Our advertising may be managed through our own internal advertising system rather than automatically supplied by a third-party advertising network. We may collect business name, contact information, website, business category, advertising interests, campaign information, advertising materials, logos and graphics, destination links, social media information, billing information, campaign dates, placement information, and communications regarding advertising. We use this information to evaluate inquiries, administer advertising relationships, schedule and display advertising, communicate with advertisers, maintain records, and provide related promotional services. The Road Apple may use service providers to support hosting, analytics, communications, payments, CRM, or other business functions even when advertising placement itself is managed internally.
Website, Marketing, SEO, AI, and Other Business Services
The Road Apple may provide website development, managed website services, social media services, content services, SEO services, AI-related optimization services, digital marketing, and other business services. If you inquire about or become a customer of these services, we may collect information necessary to respond to your inquiry, understand your business, prepare proposals, communicate with you, manage projects, provide contracted services, maintain customer records, invoice and collect payments, and provide ongoing support. Additional information may be collected after a customer relationship begins when necessary to perform contracted services.
Email, Newsletters, and Marketing Communications
You may choose to receive newsletters, launch notifications, farm and food updates, event information, seasonal information, business updates, promotions, advertising communications, service communications, and other Road Apple emails. We may use information such as your email address, interests, account relationship, location or general geographic area, and interaction with communications to provide and improve these communications where permitted by law. You may unsubscribe from promotional email communications using the unsubscribe mechanism included in those messages. Unsubscribing from promotional communications does not necessarily prevent us from sending transactional, administrative, security, billing, account, membership, or service-related communications.
CRM and Business Management Systems
The Road Apple may use customer relationship management (“CRM”), project management, accounting, email marketing, communications, and other business systems. Information submitted through our website or provided during a business relationship may be transferred to or stored within these systems to track inquiries, manage prospective customers, manage farm and business relationships, follow up on listing claims, administer memberships, manage advertising relationships, manage website and marketing clients, maintain communication history, schedule tasks, provide customer service, and maintain business records. Our service providers process information according to their applicable agreements, privacy practices, and legal obligations.
Third-Party Integrations and Service Providers
We may use third-party providers and integrations to help operate The Road Apple, including providers supporting:
- Website hosting
- Cloud infrastructure
- Databases
- Authentication
- Maps and location services
- Email delivery
- Email marketing
- CRM
- Payment processing
- Accounting
- Analytics
- Website security
- Spam and fraud prevention
- File and image storage
- Social media
- Project management
- Customer support
- Website development
- Technical services
- Marketing operations
- Other business functions
These providers may receive or process information only as reasonably necessary for the applicable service or as otherwise permitted by law and their agreements with us. Their handling of information may also be governed by their own privacy policies and legal obligations.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit or interact with the Services, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain information, such as:
- IP address
- Browser
- Device type
- Operating system
- Device identifiers where applicable
- Referring page or website
- Pages viewed
- Links clicked
- Date and time of access
- Session information
- Approximate location derived from IP address
- Website interactions
- Error and diagnostic information
- Performance information
- General usage information
We may use this information to operate, secure, analyze, troubleshoot, and improve the Services.
Location Information
Location is an important feature of the Local Farm & Food Guide. With your permission, your browser or device may provide location information that allows us to identify nearby farms or businesses, display nearby events, calculate approximate distances, sort results by proximity, display map results, or provide geographically relevant content.
You may decline precise location access. Where available, you may instead provide a city, ZIP code, address, or other location manually. We may also infer an approximate geographic area from information such as an IP address.
Location permissions can generally be controlled through your browser or device settings.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We and our service providers may use cookies, pixels, local storage, software development kits, or similar technologies to:
- Operate website functionality
- Authenticate users
- Maintain sessions
- Remember preferences
- Save settings
- Provide security
- Prevent fraud or abuse
- Measure website usage
- Diagnose errors
- Improve performance
- Understand engagement
- Support marketing or communications where permitted
Some technologies may be necessary for the Services to function. Where applicable law requires consent or additional choices for non-essential technologies, we will provide those choices as required. Browser settings may also allow you to restrict or delete cookies, although doing so may affect certain website functionality.
Analytics
We may use analytics tools to better understand how people use The Road Apple, including popular pages, general traffic patterns, search behavior, feature usage, device categories, general geographic patterns, referral sources, and website performance.
We may use this information to improve the Guide, develop new features, evaluate content, improve navigation, and operate our business.
How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information for purposes including:
- Providing and operating the Services
- Maintaining the Local Farm & Food Guide
- Creating and managing accounts
- Providing favorites and personalized features
- Creating and managing listings
- Processing listing claims
- Performing verification
- Managing free and paid memberships
- Processing transactions
- Managing subscriptions
- Reviewing and publishing events
- Providing maps and location-based features
- Responding to inquiries
- Providing customer support
- Managing advertising
- Providing website and marketing services
- Managing customer relationships
- Sending requested communications
- Sending marketing communications where permitted
- Maintaining CRM records
- Performing analytics
- Improving our website and Services
- Developing new features
- Troubleshooting technical problems
- Preventing fraud and abuse
- Protecting accounts and systems
- Enforcing our terms and policies
- Maintaining financial and business records
- Establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims
- Complying with applicable law
- Protecting The Road Apple, our users, businesses, and others
We may also use information for other purposes disclosed when the information is collected or with your consent where required.
How We Disclose Information
Service Providers. We may disclose information to vendors, contractors, processors, and service providers that perform functions on our behalf.
At Your Direction. We may disclose information when you direct or authorize us to do so.
Public Listings and Content. Information intended for public display may be disclosed publicly through the Services.
Business Relationships. Information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary to administer a membership, advertising relationship, customer project, event, or other business relationship.
Legal and Safety Purposes. We may disclose information if we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful legal process or government authorities, protect legal rights, investigate fraud, protect security, enforce agreements, or protect the safety of users or others.
Business Transactions. If The Road Apple undergoes or considers a merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, reorganization, bankruptcy, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, information may be disclosed or transferred as part of that transaction as permitted by law.
Sale of Personal Information and Third-Party Advertising
The Road Apple does not operate its website as a marketplace for selling users' personal information to advertisers. Our internal advertising program is intended to sell advertising space and promotional opportunities, not our users' personal information.
However, privacy laws in some states define terms such as “sale,” “sharing,” or “targeted advertising” broadly and may treat certain uses of cookies, analytics, advertising technologies, or third-party integrations differently from the ordinary meaning of “selling information.”
Where applicable law provides rights relating to the sale or sharing of personal information or targeted advertising, The Road Apple will honor those rights as required by law. We will also respond to legally recognized browser-based opt-out preference signals where required by applicable law and technically applicable to our Services.
Sensitive Personal Information
We do not intentionally request sensitive personal information unless reasonably necessary for a specific legitimate purpose. Please do not submit sensitive information that we have not requested.
If sensitive information is required for a particular transaction, verification, legal requirement, or service, we will handle it in accordance with applicable law.
Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools
The Road Apple may use artificial intelligence, automation, or machine-assisted tools to support business operations or features, including:
- Organizing information
- Drafting or processing content
- Categorizing listings
- Search and discovery
- Customer service support
- Data quality
- Administrative workflows
- Marketing operations
- Website and SEO services
- Fraud, spam, or security detection
When personal information is processed using service providers that offer AI or automated capabilities, we seek to use such providers in a manner consistent with our business purposes, contractual arrangements, and applicable law. We do not intend this Privacy Policy to represent that every decision affecting a user is made by artificial intelligence. Where applicable law provides rights regarding certain automated decision-making practices, we will honor those rights as required.
Data Retention
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and for legitimate business and legal purposes. Retention periods may depend on whether an account or listing remains active, membership status, customer or advertiser relationships, transaction and accounting requirements, contractual obligations, legal requirements, dispute resolution, fraud prevention, security, backup practices, and business recordkeeping.
Information may be deleted, anonymized, aggregated, or retained after an account or business relationship ends where permitted or required by law. Public information obtained independently from public sources may continue to exist in our directory even if a particular user account is closed, subject to applicable law and our listing practices.
Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards intended to protect information against unauthorized access, destruction, loss, alteration, misuse, or disclosure.
However, no internet transmission, website, database, cloud system, or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Users are responsible for protecting their credentials and maintaining the security of devices and accounts used to access our Services. Please contact us promptly if you believe an account or interaction with The Road Apple has been compromised.
Your Privacy Choices
Depending on your relationship with us, you may be able to:
- Update account information
- Update a farm or business listing
- Change certain listing display preferences
- Change location permissions
- Manage certain communications
- Unsubscribe from promotional email
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request assistance regarding personal information
- Request closure of an account
- Exercise privacy rights available under applicable law
Certain requests may require identity verification. We may deny or limit a request where permitted by law, including where information must be retained for legal, security, fraud-prevention, contractual, accounting, or other legitimate purposes.
U.S. State Privacy Rights
Residents of certain U.S. states may have additional privacy rights under applicable state law.
Depending on your state, applicable law, and whether the relevant law applies to The Road Apple or a particular processing activity, these rights may include the right to:
- Confirm whether we process your personal information
- Access personal information
- Correct inaccurate personal information
- Request deletion of certain personal information
- Obtain a portable copy of certain personal information
- Opt out of certain sales of personal information
- Opt out of certain sharing or targeted advertising
- Limit certain uses of sensitive personal information
- Opt out of certain qualifying profiling or automated decision-making
- Appeal certain decisions concerning a privacy request
- Receive information regarding categories of information collected or disclosed
- Exercise privacy rights without unlawful discrimination
These rights are not identical in every state and may be subject to exceptions.
To submit an applicable privacy request, contact privacy@theroadapple.com and include enough information for us to understand and respond to your request. We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.
Where permitted by law, an authorized agent may submit certain requests on your behalf. We may require appropriate verification of the agent's authority and/or your identity.
If applicable law provides a right to appeal our decision regarding a privacy request, you may submit an appeal using the same email address and clearly identify the communication as a “Privacy Request Appeal.”
California Privacy Notice
California residents may have additional rights under California privacy law when applicable.
Depending on the circumstances and applicability of the law, California residents may have rights concerning access, correction, deletion, portability, sale or sharing of personal information, use or disclosure of sensitive personal information, and non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights.
The categories of personal information we may collect are described throughout this Privacy Policy and may include identifiers, customer records, commercial information, internet or electronic activity, approximate or precise geolocation when authorized, professional or employment-related information supplied in connection with a business relationship, user-generated content, and inferences derived from information where applicable.
We collect and use these categories for the business and commercial purposes described in this Privacy Policy. We may disclose applicable categories to service providers, contractors, business partners, or other recipients described in this Privacy Policy.
California residents may contact privacy@theroadapple.com regarding applicable privacy rights.
Children's Privacy
The Road Apple Services are intended for a general audience and are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online directly from children under 13 in a manner prohibited by applicable law.
The Road Apple may feature agricultural youth organizations, FFA chapters, 4-H programs, youth agricultural events, educational programs, or stories involving young people.
Where personal information concerning a child is submitted, the submitter is responsible for having appropriate authority, consent, or permission to provide the information and media as required by law.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to us improperly, contact us at privacy@theroadapple.com. We will review the request and take appropriate action consistent with applicable law.
Third-Party Links
The Road Apple contains links to third-party farms, businesses, advertisers, event organizers, retailers, restaurants, social media platforms, payment providers, and other websites or services.
The Road Apple does not control the privacy or security practices of third-party websites. When you leave our Services or interact with a third party, that party's terms and privacy practices may apply.
We encourage users to review third-party privacy policies before providing personal information.
Social Media
The Road Apple may maintain profiles on third-party social media platforms. If you interact with us through a social media platform, the platform may collect and process information according to its own privacy practices. Information you make publicly available through social media may also be visible to The Road Apple and other users.
Do Not Track and Privacy Signals
Some browsers offer “Do Not Track” settings or other privacy signals. Because industry standards and legal requirements regarding these signals vary, our response may depend on the type of signal, technology involved, and applicable law. Where applicable law requires recognition of a legally valid universal opt-out mechanism or preference signal, we will process supported signals as required.
Aggregated and De-Identified Information
We may create aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information from information collected through the Services and use it for lawful purposes such as:
- Analytics
- Business planning
- Service improvement
- Research
- Reporting
- Understanding agricultural and marketplace trends
- Improving search and directory functionality
Where required by law, we will maintain de-identified information in de-identified form and will not attempt to re-identify it except as permitted by law.
Data Transfers and United States Operations
The Road Apple operates in the United States. Information may be processed and stored in the United States and in locations where our service providers maintain systems or personnel, subject to applicable legal requirements. By using our Services, you understand that information may be processed in jurisdictions that may have different privacy laws from your state or location.
Changes to Our Business or Services
The Road Apple is a growing business, and our Services may change over time. We may introduce new directory features, memberships, account features, maps, search tools, events features, advertising products, newsletters, marketing services, integrations, applications, technology providers, and business services.
We will handle personal information associated with new features in accordance with this Privacy Policy, applicable supplemental notices, and applicable law.
If a new activity materially changes how personal information is handled, we may update this Privacy Policy or provide an additional notice when appropriate.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our Services, technology, business operations, legal requirements, or privacy practices. When we update the Privacy Policy, we will revise the Last Updated date at the top of this page. Where required by law, we may provide additional notice or obtain consent before material changes become effective. We encourage users to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
Contact The Road Apple
Questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices may be directed to:
The Road Apple Company
Website: TheRoadApple.com
Privacy Email: privacy@theroadapple.com
Phone: 352-619-4660
United States
For privacy-rights requests, please use privacy@theroadapple.com and include “Privacy Request” in the subject line.