Country-of-origin produce signs have been removed at Independent Grocer following a corporate Loblaw decision, making it impossible for shoppers to determine from the shelf signage where fruit and vegetables were grown.

Fernie Independent’s owner confirmed that the change came from Loblaw head office and was not a local decision. He said he has no control over the policy and that many customers have already complained.

Packaged produce continues to carry country-of-origin information. The issue is loose produce, where shoppers can no longer rely on the shelf signage to determine whether an item comes from Canada, the United States, Mexico or elsewhere.

That matters at a time when many Canadians are deliberately trying to support Canadian growers.

Local sells fresh regional produce, giving shoppers another way to support nearby growers.

On Sundays, the Fernie Mountain Market is the place to find fresh local food, with regional growers and producers selling directly to the community.

And at the local big-box grocer, Save-On-Foods, country-of-origin information also remains clearly displayed on shelf signage, allowing shoppers to see where their fruit and vegetables were grown.

The issue is drawing criticism from shoppers at Loblaw-owned stores elsewhere in Canada.

Perhaps by the time Fernie’s Mountain Market season wraps up at the end of September, Loblaw will have listened to customers and reversed the policy.