Privacy Policy
Last updated October 20, 2025
This privacy notice for Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association, Inc. ("we," "us," or "our"), describes how and why we might access, collect, store, use, and/or share ("process") your personal information when you use our services ("services"), including when you:
- Visit our website at http://www.vermontmaple.org
or any website of ours that links to this privacy notice. - Engage with us in other related ways, including any sales, marketing, or events.
Questions or concerns?
Reading this privacy notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. We are responsible for making decisions about how your personal information is processed. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@vermontmaple.org.
Summary of key points
This summary provides key points from our privacy notice, but you can find out more details about any of these topics by clicking the link following each key point or by using our table of contents below to find the section you are looking for.
What personal information do we process?
When you visit, use, or navigate our services, we may process personal information depending on how you interact with us and the services, the choices you make, and the products and features you use. Learn more about personal information you disclose to us.
Do we process any sensitive personal information?
Some of the information may be considered "special" or "sensitive" in certain jurisdictions, for example your racial or ethnic origins, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs. We do not process sensitive personal information.
Do we collect any information from third parties?
We do not collect any information from third parties.
How do we process your information?
We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent. We process your information only when we have a valid legal reason to do so. Learn more about how we process your information.
In what situations and with which parties do we share personal information?
We may share information in specific situations and with specific third parties. Learn more about when and with whom we share your personal information.
How do we keep your information safe?
We have adequate organizational and technical processes and procedures in place to protect your personal information. However, no electronic transmission over the internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Learn more about how we keep your information safe.
What are your rights?
Depending on where you are located geographically, the applicable privacy law may mean you have certain rights regarding your personal information. Learn more about your privacy rights.
How do you exercise your rights?
The easiest way to exercise your rights is by submitting a data subject access request, or by contacting us. We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Want to learn more about what we do with any information we collect?
Review the privacy notice in full.
What information do we collect?
Personal information you disclose to us
In short: We collect personal information that you provide to us. We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products and services, when you participate in activities on the services, or otherwise when you contact us.
Personal information provided by you. The personal information that we collect depends on the context of your interactions with us and the services, the choices you make, and the products and features you use. The personal information we collect may include the following:
- Names
- Email addresses
Sensitive information.
We do not process sensitive information.
Payment data.
We may collect data necessary to process your payment if you choose to make purchases, such as your payment instrument number, and the security code associated with your payment instrument. All payment data is handled and stored by Shopify. You may find their privacy notice link(s) here: https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy.
All personal information that you provide to us must be true, complete, and accurate, and you must notify us of any changes to such personal information.
Information automatically collected
In short: Some information — such as your internet protocol (IP) address and/or browser and device characteristics — is collected automatically when you visit our services.
We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate the services. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our services, and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our services, and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes.
Like many businesses, we also collect information through cookies and similar technologies. The information we collect includes:
Log and usage data. Log and usage data is service-related, diagnostic, usage, and performance information our servers automatically collect when you access or use our services and which we record in log files. Depending on how you interact with us, this log data may include your IP address, device information, browser type, and settings and information about your activity in the services (such as the date/time stamps associated with your usage, pages and files viewed, searches, and other actions you take such as which features you use), device event information (such as system activity, error reports (sometimes called "crash dumps"), and hardware settings).
Device data. We collect device data such as information about your computer, phone, tablet, or other device you use to access the services. Depending on the device used, this device data may include information such as your IP address (or proxy server), device and application identification numbers, location, browser type, hardware model, internet service provider and/or mobile carrier, operating system, and system configuration information.
Location data. We collect location data such as information about your device's location, which can be either precise or imprecise. How much information we collect depends on the type and settings of the device you use to access the services. For example, we may use GPS and other technologies to collect geolocation data that tells us your current location (based on your IP address). You can opt out of allowing us to collect this information either by refusing access to the information or by disabling your location setting on your device. However, if you choose to opt out, you may not be able to use certain aspects of the services.
Google API. Our use of information received from Google APIs will adhere to Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
How do we process your information?
In short: We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent.
We process your personal information for a variety of reasons, depending on how you interact with our services, including:
To facilitate account creation and authentication and otherwise manage user accounts. We may process your information so you can create and log in to your account, as well as keep your account in working order.
To deliver and facilitate delivery of services to the user. We may process your information to provide you with the requested service.
To respond to user inquiries and offer support to users. We may process your information to respond to your inquiries and solve any potential issues you might have with the requested service.
To send administrative information to you. We may process your information to send you details about our products and services, changes to our terms and policies, and other similar information.
To fulfill and manage your orders. We may process your information to fulfill and manage your orders, payments, returns, and exchanges made through the services.
To enable user-to-user communications. We may process your information if you choose to use any of our offerings that allow for communication with another user.
To request feedback. We may process your information when necessary to request feedback and to contact you about your use of our services.
To send you marketing and promotional communications. We may process the personal information you send to us for our marketing purposes, if this is in accordance with your marketing preferences. You can opt out of our marketing emails at any time.
To deliver targeted advertising to you. We may process your information to develop and display personalized content and advertising tailored to your interests, location, and more.
To protect our services. We may process your information as part of our efforts to keep our services safe and secure, including fraud monitoring and prevention.
To evaluate and improve our services, products, marketing, and your experience. We may process your information when we believe it is necessary to identify usage trends, determine the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, and evaluate and improve our services, products, marketing, and your experience.
To identify usage trends. We may process information about how you use our services to better understand how they are being used so we can improve them.
To determine the effectiveness of our marketing and promotional campaigns. We may process your information to better understand how to provide marketing and promotional campaigns that are most relevant to you.
To comply with our legal obligations. We may process your information to comply with our legal obligations, respond to legal requests, and exercise, establish, or defend our legal rights.
When and with whom do we share your personal information?
In short: We may share information in specific situations described in this section and/or with the following third parties.
We may need to share your personal information in the following situations:
Business transfers. We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.
When we use Google Maps Platform APIs. We may share your information with certain Google Maps Platform APIs (for example, Google Maps API, Places API).
Affiliates. We may share your information with our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this privacy notice. Affiliates include our parent company and any subsidiaries, joint venture partners, or other companies that we control or that are under common control with us.
Business partners. We may share your information with our business partners to offer you certain products, services, or promotions.
Offer wall. Our app(s) may display a third-party hosted "offer wall." Such an offer wall allows third-party advertisers to offer virtual currency, gifts, or other items to users in return for accepting and completing an advertisement offer. Such an offer wall may appear in our app(s) and be displayed to you based on certain data, such as your geographic area or demographic information. When you click on an offer wall, you will be brought to an external website belonging to other persons and will leave our app(s). A unique identifier, such as your user ID, will be shared with the offer wall provider to prevent fraud and properly credit your account with the relevant reward.
Do we use cookies and other tracking technologies?
In short: We may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect and store your information.
We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to access or store information. Specific information about how we use such technologies and how you can refuse certain cookies is set out in our cookie notice.
How long do we keep your information?
In short: We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy notice unless otherwise required by law.
We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes set out in this privacy notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements).
When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymize such information, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible.
How do we keep your information safe?
In short: We aim to protect your personal information through a system of organizational and technical security measures.
We have implemented appropriate and reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our services is at your own risk. You should only access the services within a secure environment.
Do we collect information from minors?
In short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age.
We do not knowingly collect, solicit data from, or market to children under 18 years of age, nor do we knowingly sell such personal information. By using the services, you represent that you are at least 18 or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of the services. If we learn that personal information from users less than 18 years of age has been collected, we will deactivate the account and take reasonable measures to promptly delete such data from our records. If you become aware of any data we may have collected from children under age 18, please contact us at info@vermontmaple.org.
What are your privacy rights?
In short: In some regions, such as the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, and Canada, you have rights that allow you greater access to and control over your personal information. You may review, change, or terminate your account at any time.
In some regions (like the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Canada), you have certain rights under applicable data protection laws. These may include the right (i) to request access and obtain a copy of your personal information, (ii) to request rectification or erasure, (iii) to restrict the processing of your personal information, and (iv) if applicable, to data portability. In certain circumstances, you may also have the right to object to the processing of your personal information. You can make such a request by contacting us using the contact details provided in the section "How can you contact us about this notice?" below.
We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
If you are located in the EEA or UK and you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal information, you also have the right to complain to your member state's data protection authority or the UK Information Commissioner's Office.
If you are located in Switzerland, you may contact the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.
Withdrawing your consent: If we are relying on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us using the contact details provided in the section "How can you contact us about this notice?" below.
However, please note that this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing before its withdrawal, nor when applicable law allows us to process your information without your consent.
Opting out of marketing and promotional communications: You can unsubscribe from our marketing and promotional communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the emails that we send, or by contacting us using the details provided below. You will then be removed from the marketing lists. However, we may still communicate with you — for example, to send you service-related messages that are necessary for the administration and use of your account, to respond to service requests, or for other non-marketing purposes.
Cookies and similar technologies: Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove cookies and to reject cookies. If you choose to remove cookies or reject cookies, this could affect certain features or services of our services.
If you have questions or comments about your privacy rights, you may email us at info@vermontmaple.org.
Controls for do-not-track features
Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and mobile applications include a do-not-track ("DNT") feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected. At this stage, no uniform technology standard for recognizing and implementing DNT signals has been finalized. As such, we do not currently respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanism that automatically communicates your choice not to be tracked online. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we must follow in the future, we will inform you about that practice in a revised version of this privacy notice.
Do we make updates to this notice?
In short: Yes, we will update this notice as necessary to stay compliant with relevant laws.
We may update this privacy notice from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated "revised" date, and the updated version will be effective as soon as it is accessible. If we make material changes to this privacy notice, we may notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to review this privacy notice frequently to be informed of how we are protecting your information.
How can you contact us about this notice?
If you have questions or comments about this notice, you may email us at info@vermontmaple.org
or contact us by post at:
Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 83
Westford, VT 05494
United States
How can you review, update, or delete the data we collect from you?
Based on the applicable laws of your country, you may have the right to request access to the personal information we collect from you, change that information, or delete it.
To request to review, update, or delete your personal information, please contact us at info@vermontmaple.org.
Additional information for California residents
This section applies only to California residents. Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have specific rights regarding your personal information.
Categories of personal information we collect
We have collected the following categories of personal information in the past twelve (12) months:
Identifiers: such as name, contact details, and online identifiers.
Personal information described in the California Customer Records statute: such as contact details and payment information.
Commercial information: such as purchase history and payment records.
Internet or other electronic network activity: such as browsing history, search history, and information about your interactions with our services.
Geolocation data: such as device location.
Inferences drawn from other personal information: such as your preferences and characteristics.
Sensitive personal information: we do not collect sensitive personal information.
We collect these categories of personal information for the purposes described in the section “How do we process your information?” above.
We may share your personal information with the following categories of third parties:
- Service providers
- Business partners
- Affiliates
Your rights under the CCPA
You have the right to request:
- The categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
- The categories of sources from which we collect personal information.
- The purposes for which we use the personal information.
- The categories of third parties with whom we share personal information.
- The categories of personal information we disclose for a business purpose.
You also have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions provided by law.
We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.
To exercise your rights, submit a verifiable consumer request by emailing us at info@vermontmaple.org.
You may make up to two requests per year, and we will respond within the time required by law.
Verification process
When you submit a request, we will verify your identity by matching the information you provide to the information we already maintain. You may be asked to provide additional details to confirm your identity.
Authorized agents
If you use an authorized agent to submit a request, we may require proof that you have given the agent signed permission to act on your behalf. We may also require you to verify your own identity directly with us.
Sale and sharing of personal information
We do not sell or share personal information as defined under the CCPA.
Retention of personal information
We retain your personal information as described in the section “How long do we keep your information?” above.
Children’s privacy
We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors under 18 years of age.
Updates to this section
We may update this California-specific section as necessary to comply with changes to the CCPA or other applicable laws.
Additional information for residents outside the United States
Depending on your location, you may have additional rights under local privacy laws. For example, residents of the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, and Canada have rights including access, correction, deletion, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection to processing.
We encourage you to review local laws applicable in your jurisdiction to understand your rights. You may exercise your rights by contacting us at info@vermontmaple.org.
How we respond to legal requests
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities, such as law enforcement or government agencies. We may also disclose information to protect our legal rights, enforce our policies, or respond to emergencies that threaten the safety of any person.
Third-party links
Our services may contain links to third-party websites, products, or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. We encourage you to read the privacy notices of any third-party sites you visit.
Contact information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy notice or our privacy practices, please contact us:
By email: info@vermontmaple.org
By post: Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 83
Westford, VT 05494
United States
Effective date
This privacy notice is effective as of October 20, 2025.