Terms and Conditions

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Please read these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) before using the Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine website at https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/ (the “Website”).

The Website is owned and operated by Gavel Media Inc., a nonprofit organization.

By accessing or using the Website, you agree to these Terms and to applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the Website.

1. About Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine

Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine is a nonprofit, community-focused publication serving farmers, farmers markets, rural communities, and readers throughout the Appalachian Highlands.

Our mission is to inform, connect, and support the agricultural community through journalism, educational resources, and regional information.

Our coverage may include:

Agricultural news and public policy affecting farmers, farmers markets and rural communities.
Farming methods, equipment, research and emerging agricultural technologies.
Food, cooking and recipe features.
Articles about fresh, locally produced, organic and minimally processed foods.
Farmers market profiles and stories about farmers, growers, producers and vendors.
Educational programs, grants, workshops and other opportunities for agricultural producers.
Information about food safety, recalls and other issues affecting consumers and agricultural businesses.

As a nonprofit initiative of Gavel Media Inc., our journalism and public resources serve the public interest, encourage informed communities, and highlight agriculture throughout the Appalachian Highlands.

The Website does not currently conduct retail or other online commerce.

2. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine may use artificial intelligence tools as part of its editorial and production process.

AI may assist with tasks such as editing, proofreading, organizing information, research assistance, headline development, search engine optimization, transcription, data organization, and creating limited illustrations or other visual material.

Our writers, editors and contributors remain responsible for the journalism we publish.

Article ideas, reporting decisions, interviews, observations, original research and substantive editorial judgment come from our writers, editors and contributors. When we use AI tools, they serve as production or editorial aids rather than substitutes for independent reporting and editorial oversight.

We review material produced with AI assistance before publication and make reasonable efforts to verify factual information through original reporting, authoritative sources or other reliable documentation.

When AI-generated or AI-assisted illustrations are used, they are intended as editorial illustrations unless otherwise identified. Do not interpret them as documentary photographs of an actual event, person, or location.

3. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated, Gavel Media Inc., Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine, contributors, or licensors own material published on the Website. This material may be protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Some articles may include information, quotations, photographs, documents or other material obtained from outside sources. When appropriate, we identify or cite those sources and use such material in accordance with applicable law, licensing terms, permissions or recognized journalistic practices.

You may access Website content for personal, educational and other lawful noncommercial purposes.

Unless otherwise permitted by law or by written authorization from Gavel Media Inc., you may not reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, license or commercially exploit substantial portions of our original content.

You may:

Allow your computer or device to store Website material as necessary to display the Website temporarily.
Allow your browser to store automatically cached files.
Print or download a reasonable number of pages for your personal, noncommercial use.
Share links to our publicly available articles and Website pages.
Quote reasonable portions of our reporting for commentary, criticism, education, news reporting, or other purposes permitted by law, with appropriate attribution.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to restrict rights available under fair use or other applicable provisions of copyright law.

For permission to republish Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine material, contact us using the information listed below.

4. Acceptable Use of the Website

You agree to use the Website only for lawful purposes.

You may not knowingly:

Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Website, its servers or related systems.
Interfere with the operation or security of the Website.
Introduce malicious software, harmful code, or other material intended to damage or disrupt the Website.
Use automated systems in a manner that places an unreasonable burden on the Website or interferes with its normal operation.
Use Website content in a manner that falsely suggests endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine or Gavel Media Inc.
Use the Website to violate the rights of another person or organization.

We reserve the right to restrict access when necessary to protect the Website, our users, or our organization.

5. Information You Provide to Us

Although Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine does not currently conduct online commerce, visitors may provide information through contact forms, event submissions, farmers market submissions, vendor inquiries, newsletter sign-ups, surveys, or other communication methods.

When you voluntarily provide information to us, you agree to provide information that is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

We may use the information you provide to:

Respond to your inquiry.
Contact you about a submission or request.
Verify information for possible publication.
Provide newsletters, updates, or other communications you have requested.
Maintain or improve our public resources, directories, calendars or other services.

Our Privacy Policy also governs how we collect and handle personal information.

Submitting information to Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine does not guarantee publication, inclusion in a directory, coverage in an article, or any other editorial action.

We retain editorial discretion over what we publish.

6. Editorial Independence and Accuracy

We make reasonable efforts to publish accurate and timely information.

Agricultural programs, event dates, government requirements, grant deadlines, farmers market schedules, prices, regulations, and other information can change after publication. Readers should confirm important details with the organization, agency, business, or other source responsible for the information before acting.

We may correct errors when we identify them.

Editorial coverage of a person, business, organization, product, government program or event does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine or Gavel Media Inc.

7. Health, Food and Agricultural Information

Some Website content discusses food, nutrition, health, farming practices, pesticides, livestock, food safety, or other subjects that may affect health, safety, or agricultural operations.

This information is provided for general educational and journalistic purposes.

It should not be considered medical, veterinary, legal, financial, agricultural or other professional advice.

Readers should consult an appropriate qualified professional, government agency, Extension specialist, veterinarian, health care professional or other authoritative source when making decisions involving health, safety, regulatory compliance, agricultural production or significant financial matters.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

We work to provide useful and accurate information, but we cannot guarantee that every item published on the Website will always be complete, current, or free from error.

The Website and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

To the extent permitted by law, Gavel Media Inc. and Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine disclaim warranties, express or implied, concerning the Website and its content, including warranties of accuracy, availability, reliability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.

Nothing in this section limits rights or protections that cannot legally be waived.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Gavel Media Inc., Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine and their directors, officers, employees, contributors, agents, licensors and service providers will not be liable for losses or damages arising from or related to the use of, or inability to use, the Website or its content.

This includes, where permitted by law, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising from reliance on Website content, interruption of Website availability, loss of data or interaction with third-party websites.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by law.

10. Links to Other Websites

The Website may contain links to government agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, farmers markets, news organizations and other third-party websites.

We provide many of these links because they may help readers locate original documents, verify information, register for events, obtain additional information, or access services offered by another organization.

A link does not necessarily mean that Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine or Gavel Media Inc. endorses the linked organization, its products, services, opinions, or practices.

We do not control third-party websites and are not responsible for their content, availability, security, privacy policies or practices.

When you leave our Website, the third-party website’s terms and privacy policies may apply.

11. Changes to Website Content

We may update, correct, remove or reorganize Website content at any time.

We may also modify, suspend or discontinue Website features or services when necessary.

We are not obligated to keep every article, listing, event, directory entry or other item permanently available.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms as our Website, services or policies change.

When we make changes, we will post the revised Terms on this page and update the date shown at the top.

Changes become effective when they are posted unless otherwise stated.

Your continued use of the Website after we post revised Terms constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Any legal action arising from these Terms or use of the Website shall be brought in a court with appropriate jurisdiction in Virginia, subject to any rights or jurisdictional requirements that cannot legally be waived.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

The remaining provisions will continue in effect.

15. No Waiver

If Gavel Media Inc. does not immediately enforce a provision of these Terms, that does not mean the organization has waived the right to enforce that provision later.