After almost four years of serving Cumberland, Seeds Food Market has been nominated for a provincewide award for the impact it has on the village.Small Business BC has launched their new Best Community Impact award for 2012 and this small-town grocer is in the running.“My work history before opening Seeds was a lot of experience in education and community development, so this has been a large focus of our business since we opened. It would be such an honour to be recognized for this,” says owner Tina Willard-Stepan.“Having Cumberland’s small businesses recognized in these awards is really good for the whole town,” adds one customer.  The award was created by Small Business BC to recognize small businesses across the province for the kind of contributions they make to their communities that fall outside of ‘normal’ everyday business.Seeds, for instance, makes contributions such as: presenting programs for students about sustainability and eating nutritious food, houses a World Community film library, sponsors local community-building events, donates to the local food bank and school lunch program, and sponsors the school’s community garden.Their business practices are also focused on greater community values. Seeds’ purchasing policy, for instance, is designed to support other local businesses, farms and food manufacturers, recirculating money back into the community, and providing a venue for customers to reduce their carbon footprint around food. You can help them win this award by going online and voting for them at www.successfulyou.ca/nominee/best-community/73 in the Best Community Impact category. Seeds Natural Food Market is located at 2733A Dunsmuir Ave. in Cumberland, on the corner of Third and Dunsmuir. For more information, contact 250-336-0129 visit www.seedfoodmarket.ca or  www.facebook.com/seedsfoodmarket.— Seeds Natural Food Market

Comox Valley Record