3,770. Buying Shemittah Produce From a Layperson

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 8:9

One may work with harvested produce in Syria (meaning lands annexed by Israel), but one may not work with produce that is still connected to the ground. For example, one may thresh and winnow produce, squeeze grapes and bind sheaves, but one may not harvest grain, grapes or olives, or do anything comparable.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 8:10

Just like one may not do business with shemittah produce or guard it, one may likewise not purchase it from an unlearned person. This is because we don’t give money received for shemittah produce to an unlearned person – not even a little – out of concern that he might use it in a manner inconsistent with how shemittah money must be used.