Privacy Policy
The following Privacy Policy describes the information and privacy practices for the Web site of the Food Co-op Initiative (the “Site”). When you provide us with personal information about you, you are accepting the information practices described in this policy.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party Web sites that may be accessible through the Site. The Food Co-op Initiative encourages you to read the privacy policies of those other sites to learn how they collect, use, share and secure your information.
Collection of Information
Purpose. The information that the Food Co-op Initiative obtains from users allows the Food Co-op Initiative to personalize and continually improve your experience on the Site. The following describes the types of information that the Food Co-op Initiative gathers from you as a user of the Site:
Automatic Information. When you interact with the Food Co-op Initiative through the Site, the Food Co-op Initiative receives and stores certain types of information in the form of “cookies,” or small storage files that transmit your electronic identity to the Web sites that you visit. Like most Web sites, the Site uses cookies to be able to identify you as a return visitor to the Site. Some examples of the information that the Food Co-op Initiative may collect and analyze include the Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet; login information; e-mail address; password; computer and connection information such as browser type and version, operating system, and platform; the full Uniform Resource Locator (URL) clickstream to, through, and from the Site, including date and time; cookie number; and podcasts or pages viewed or searched. The Food Co-op Initiative may use software tools such as JavaScript to measure and collect session information, including page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling and clicks), and methods used to browse on the Site. Web browsers have the ability to accept cookies, reject cookies, or to prompt the user before accepting them. The help portion of the toolbar of your browser will tell you how to select the option that suits you best.
Information You Provide. The Food Co-op Initiative collects the information that you knowingly and voluntarily provide when you use the Site, or when you ask us a question or email us with feedback. In many cases, this information will be personal information. The Food Co-op Initiative uses the information for the purposes for which you provide it. For example, if you provide your e-mail address when you sign up to receive e-mail alerts, we use your e-mail address to deliver the e-mail alerts you request. In addition, the Site may contain forums, bulletin board service, chat areas, message boards, newsgroups communities, personal web pages, calendars, and or/other message or communication facilities designed to allow you to communicate with the Internet community or with a group (collectively, “Communication Services”). Any information that is received through the Communication Services is not considered confidential information. By transmitting any personal information to the Food Co-op Initiative through the Communication Services, YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE MAY USE THAT INFORMATION FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER WITHOUT ANY OBLIGATION TO YOU.
E-mail Communications. The Food Co-op Initiative may communicate with you via e-mail. To help the Food Co-op Initiative make e-mails more useful and interesting, the Food Co-op Initiative may receive a confirmation or other information related to your viewing of the e-mail message when you open an e-mail from the Site or when you click on links in the e-mail message. If you do not want to receive e-mail or other mail from the Food Co-op Initiative, you may adjust your e-mail contact preferences on the Site using the link at Contact Us.
Information from Other Sources. From time to time, the Food Co-op Initiative may receive information about you from other sources and add it to your Food Co-op Initiative account information.
Right to Refrain from Giving Information. You have the right to refrain from giving the Food Co-op Initiative certain information, but you may not be able to take full advantage of the Site in such a case. The Food Co-op Initiative uses the information that you provide to enhance the service, such as responding to your requests, customizing future content for you, improving our product and Web offerings, and communicating with you.
Sharing of Information
General. The information collected by the Food Co-op Initiative about our users is critical to our operations. The Food Co-op Initiative respects and values this information, and does not want to jeopardize the flow of information between our users and the Site. The Food Co-op Initiative does not generate revenue by selling customer information to other Web sites or businesses nor do we have any agreements in place to provide customer information to other Web sites or businesses. There are limited circumstances, however, in which the Food Co-op Initiative may share certain specified user information as set forth and described below. The Food Co-op Initiative authorizes the use of user information only as described below and in such cases, only with its subsidiaries or affiliates that either is subject to this Privacy Policy or follow practices at least as protective as those described in this Privacy Policy.
Agents. It may be necessary for the Food Co-op Initiative to employ other companies and individuals to perform functions on its behalf. Agents are often used to assist with sending postal mail and e-mail, removing repetitive information from user lists, analyzing data, providing marketing assistance, providing search results and links (including paid listings and links), and providing customer service. These agents are permitted access to only the personal information needed to perform their functions and are strictly prohibited from using such information for any other purposes.
Protection of the Food Co-op Initiative and Others. It may be necessary to release account and other personal information if the Food Co-op Initiative is compelled to cooperate or comply with laws; enforce or apply the Terms of Use and other related agreements; or protect the rights, property, or safety of the Food Co-op Initiative, the users of its Site, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection. Under no circumstances, however, does this include selling, sharing, or otherwise disclosing personally identifiable information from users for commercial purposes in violation of the commitments set forth in this Privacy Policy.
With Your Consent. Other than as set out above, you will receive notice from the Food Co-op Initiative if we intend to share certain information about you with select third parties, and you will have an opportunity to choose to opt-out of the transmittal of such information.
Information Security Software
To protect the security of information you provide to the Site, the Food Co-op Initiative uses software that encrypts your information. This does not guarantee, however, that the Site cannot be breached by hackers or other third parties, putting your information at risk. Encryption of your information provides a commercially reasonable safeguard against hackers.
User Choices with Regard to Access of Information
General. You may decline to provide any information to the Food Co-op Initiative on or via the Site; however, this may have an impact on your use of the Site and the ability to take advantage of certain unique features of the Site.
Prior Information. When you update information on the Site, the Food Co-op Initiative may keep a copy of the prior version for historical records.
User Communication. If you do not want to receive e-mail or other mail or notifications from the Food Co-op Initiative, please adjust your account settings regarding e-mail contact preferences. (You cannot, however, waive the applicability of the Terms of Use and other legal notices, such as this Privacy Policy, and if you elect not to receive those notices, they will still govern your use of the Site. It is your responsibility to review the notices for changes.)
Cookie Choices. The “Help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether.
Children
The Food Co-op Initiative does not direct its Site to children under the age of 13 and does not sell products for purchase by children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, you may use the Site only with the involvement and supervision of a parent or guardian.
Conditions of Use, Notices, and Revisions
Acceptance of Conditions of Use. By visiting the Site, you accept that your visit and any dispute over privacy is subject to this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use, including limitations on damages, arbitration of disputes, and application of the law of the State of Minnesota, USA. If you have any concerns about privacy on the Site or use of your personal information, please contact us at 12345 Goodhue Ave, Dennison, MN 55018 or via email at info@fci.coop, and we will make reasonable attempts to resolve your concern.
Revisions. The Food Co-op Initiative reserves the right to periodically revise this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use. You should check the Site frequently to review recent changes.
Applicability. Unless stated otherwise, this Privacy Policy applies to all information that the Food Co-op Initiative has on file about you and your account.
Copyright ©2021 Food Co-op Initiative
Last updated: July 20, 2012
