Privacy & Media Policies

The Sierra Foothills Winegrape Growers Association (SWGGA) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you choose to share with us.

Information We Collect

We collect only the information you voluntarily provide through membership applications, event registrations, contact forms, and other Association activities. This information is used solely to conduct the business of SWGGA.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information for advertising or marketing purposes.

Website Security

Our website uses security measures, including Wordfence, to help protect the website and information submitted through it.

Cookies

The Sierra Foothills Winegrape Growers Association website uses only the cookies necessary for security and the normal operation of the website. We do not use advertising, analytics, or visitor-tracking cookies.

These cookies may be used to:

• Maintain secure administrator login sessions.
• Help protect the website from malicious activity and automated attacks.
• Support the proper operation of online forms.
• Remember your cookie preferences, if applicable.

You may configure your web browser to block or delete cookies; however, doing so may affect the functionality of some features of the website.

Contact Forms

Messages submitted through the website are sent to official SWGGA email accounts and then forwarded to the appropriate volunteer or Board member. Personal email addresses are not displayed on the website to help reduce spam and protect volunteer privacy.

Email Communications

If you are a member of the Sierra Foothills Winegrape Growers Association and provide us with your email address, we will use it to send newsletters, event announcements, educational information, and other Association-related communications.

You may unsubscribe at any time by using the “Unsubscribe” link included in each email. Unsubscribing will remove your email address from our mailing list, and you will no longer receive these communications unless you choose to subscribe again.

We do not sell, rent, or share our mailing list with third parties for marketing purposes.

Photography and Media

SWGGA may photograph or record meetings, educational programs, vineyard tours, and other Association-sponsored activities. These photographs and videos may be used in Association newsletters, publications, educational materials, social media, and on the SWGGA website.

Members who prefer not to appear in Association photographs or videos may indicate their preference on the membership application or notify an event organizer. SWGGA will make reasonable efforts to honor those requests.

SWGGA may also use artificial intelligence (AI) to create illustrations, graphics, and other artwork for educational or promotional purposes. AI-generated illustrations and graphics are not intended to represent actual members, events, vineyards, or Association activities unless specifically identified.

Questions

Questions regarding this policy may be submitted through the Contact page on the SWGGA website.

This policy may be updated from time to time as Association practices evolve.

Marketplace Terms of Service

The SWGGA Marketplace is provided as a service to connect buyers and sellers within the winegrape, vineyard, winery, and agricultural community.

SWGGA provides a forum for advertising items and services but is not a buyer, seller, broker, agent, or party to any transaction.

Sellers are responsible for ensuring that their listings are accurate, lawful, and honestly describe the item or service being offered.

Buyers are responsible for evaluating listings, inspecting items, verifying information, and determining whether a purchase is appropriate.

SWGGA does not inspect, verify, guarantee, or warrant any listing, product, service, equipment, property, or transaction.

All negotiations, payments, transfers of ownership, warranties, and disputes are solely between the buyer and the seller.

Listings must be appropriate for the agricultural, vineyard, winery, and rural community served by SWGGA. The Association reserves the right to edit, reject, or remove any listing that is misleading, unlawful, inappropriate, or unrelated to the Association’s mission.

The Board of Directors may establish listing fees for non-members. Listing fees cover the administrative cost of publishing a listing and are non-refundable once a listing has been accepted and posted.

By submitting a listing, the seller confirms that they have the authority to offer the item or service and agrees to these Terms of Service.

These Terms of Service may be updated periodically. The version posted on the SWGGA website is the governing version of these Terms of Service.