Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Glean America website and services ("Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to all of these Terms, you may not access or use our Services. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Glean America, a nonprofit organization.

Description of Service

Glean America operates an online platform that connects three groups of participants:

• Farmers with surplus crops available for gleaning
• Youth groups seeking volunteer and community service opportunities through gleaning
• Food banks and pantries that receive and distribute gleaned produce to those in need

Glean America serves as a platform to facilitate connections between these parties. We do not own, operate, or manage any farms, youth organizations, or food distribution centers. We are not a party to any agreements made between users of our platform.

Platform Role and Limitations

Glean America is a connector and facilitator — not a participant in the gleaning activities arranged through our platform. It is important to understand that:

• We do not supervise, direct, or control any gleaning activities
• We do not verify the accuracy of information provided by registered users
• We do not guarantee the quality, safety, or condition of any crops or produce
• We are not responsible for the actions, conduct, or omissions of any farmer, youth group, or food bank
• We do not provide insurance coverage for any gleaning activities

User Responsibilities

By registering for and using our Services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information in your registration
• Maintain and promptly update your information to keep it accurate
• Use the platform only for its intended purpose of facilitating gleaning activities
• Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations
• Treat all other users with respect and professionalism
• Not misuse the platform for spam, fraud, or any unlawful purpose
• Not attempt to scrape, harvest, or collect user data from the platform

Farmer Responsibilities

Farmers who register on Glean America acknowledge and agree that:

• They maintain full ownership and control of their property at all times
• They have the right to set rules, restrictions, and boundaries for gleaning activities on their land
• They may accept or decline any gleaning request at their sole discretion
• They are responsible for ensuring their property is reasonably safe for visitors
• They should carry appropriate liability insurance for visitors on their property
• They are responsible for communicating any hazards, rules, or safety requirements to visiting groups

Youth Group Responsibilities

Youth group leaders who register on Glean America acknowledge and agree that:

• They are responsible for the supervision and safety of all participants in their group
• They must ensure appropriate adult-to-youth ratios during all gleaning activities
• They must obtain any necessary permissions and waivers from parents or guardians of minor participants
• They must follow all rules and instructions set by the hosting farmer
• They participate in gleaning activities at their own risk

Assumption of Risk

All gleaning activities involve inherent risks, including but not limited to physical injury, exposure to weather, insects, allergens, agricultural chemicals, uneven terrain, and farm equipment. By participating in gleaning activities arranged through our platform, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with these activities.

All gleaning is undertaken at the participants' own risk. Glean America strongly recommends that all parties carry appropriate insurance and execute liability waivers before any gleaning activity takes place.

Good Samaritan Food Donation Protections

The federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (42 U.S.C. § 1791) provides liability protection to donors who donate food in good faith to nonprofit organizations for distribution to those in need. Under this law:

• Farmers who donate gleaned produce in good faith are generally protected from civil and criminal liability should the produce later cause harm to the recipient
• This protection applies when food is donated to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals
• Protection does not apply in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct

Many states have additional gleaning-specific laws that provide further protections. We encourage all participants to familiarize themselves with the laws applicable in their state. This information is provided for general reference and does not constitute legal advice.

Content and Intellectual Property

All content on the Glean America website, including text, graphics, logos, icons, images, and software, is the property of Glean America or its content suppliers and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

By submitting information through our registration forms, you grant Glean America a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and share that information as necessary to operate our platform and connect participants for gleaning purposes.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Glean America and its officers, directors, volunteers, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Personal injury or property damage arising from gleaning activities
• Any interactions between users of the platform
• Loss of data, revenue, or profits
• Service interruptions or technical issues
• The actions or omissions of third parties

Our Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Glean America, its officers, directors, volunteers, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or in any way connected with:

• Your use of our Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Any gleaning activities you participate in through our platform

Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to our Services at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Reasons for termination may include, but are not limited to, violation of these Terms, abusive behavior toward other users, or providing false information.

You may also choose to discontinue using our Services at any time. To request removal of your registration data, please contact us at info@gleanamerica.org.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the state in which Glean America is incorporated, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with applicable rules.

Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: