Terms of Service

1. What Grown-Home Is

Grown-Home ("the Platform") is a marketplace that connects neighbors who make or grow food with neighbors who want to buy it. Grown-Home is operated by Eddie Zaldivar ("we," "us," "our").

Grown-Home is not a seller. We do not produce, prepare, package, label, or deliver any food listed on the Platform. All food is made by independent sellers who are solely responsible for their products.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Grown-Home. By creating an account, you confirm that you are 18 or older and that the information you provide is accurate.

3. Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and for all activity that occurs under it. You may not share your account credentials. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or receive repeated reports from other users.

4. Food Safety and Cottage Food

Many sellers on Grown-Home operate under state cottage food laws, which allow individuals to sell certain homemade food products directly to consumers. In California, this is governed by the California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616) and subsequent amendments.

Grown-Home does not verify food safety compliance. We do not inspect kitchens, test food products, or verify that sellers comply with applicable cottage food, health, or safety regulations. Sellers are solely responsible for:

• Complying with all applicable local, state, and federal food safety laws
• Obtaining any required permits or registrations
• Proper labeling of ingredients and allergens
• Safe food handling, preparation, and storage
• Accurate product descriptions

Buyers purchase at their own risk. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, it is your responsibility to communicate them to the seller before purchasing. Grown-Home is not liable for any allergic reactions, foodborne illness, or other adverse effects from food purchased through the Platform.

5. Transactions and Payments

All payments between buyers and sellers occur off-platform using methods agreed upon by both parties (e.g., Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, cash). Grown-Home does not process, hold, or facilitate food payments.

Because payments happen outside our platform, we cannot mediate payment disputes between buyers and sellers. We encourage both parties to agree on payment terms before meeting for pickup.

Grown-Home charges subscription fees for optional services (Verified at $1.99/mo, Plus at $7.99/mo). These are processed through Stripe. You may cancel subscriptions at any time through your account settings.

Subscription refunds are not provided for partial billing periods. When you cancel, your subscription remains active through the end of your current billing cycle.

6. Text Messaging

By placing an order on Grown-Home, you may receive a one-time SMS message confirming your order. Standard message and data rates may apply. You can opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP. For help, reply HELP or email support@grown-home.com. Message frequency: one (1) message per order. Grown-Home and its service providers are not responsible for delayed or undelivered messages.

7. Pickup and Meetups

Transactions on Grown-Home typically involve in-person pickup or meetups between buyers and sellers. You are responsible for your own safety during these interactions. We recommend meeting in well-lit public places when possible and letting someone know where you are going.

Grown-Home is not responsible for any incidents, injuries, theft, or disputes that occur during in-person exchanges.

8. Seller Responsibilities

If you list food for sale on Grown-Home, you agree to:

• Provide accurate descriptions of your products, including ingredients and allergens
• Comply with all applicable food safety and cottage food laws in your jurisdiction
• Respond to buyer inquiries and order requests in a timely manner
• Honor accepted orders unless you communicate a cancellation to the buyer
• Not list prohibited items (alcohol, cannabis, raw milk where prohibited, or any illegal product)

9. Prohibited Conduct

You may not:

• Use the Platform for any illegal purpose
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Create fake accounts or impersonate others
• Manipulate reviews or ratings
• Scrape data or use bots to interact with the Platform
• List items that are not food or food-related
• Circumvent any safety or trust features

10. Verification and Trust

Grown-Home offers optional identity verification (Verified) and tracks seller reputation (Trusted). These features are designed to build trust between neighbors but do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of any seller, their products, or their food safety practices.

A Verified badge means the seller has submitted a government-issued ID that was reviewed and approved. A Trusted badge means the seller has met community-based reputation criteria. Neither badge guarantees the quality, safety, or legality of any food product.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Grown-Home and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to foodborne illness, allergic reactions, personal injury during meetups, payment disputes, or lost profits.

The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify users through the Platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact

Questions about these terms? Reach us at hello@grown-home.com.