[permaculture] gmo produce PLU code for grocery stores (fwd)
Ben Martin Horst
ben.martinhorst at gmail.com
Wed Apr 2 21:47:16 EDT 2008
Having worked in the organic grocery biz for a few years now, this is
total news to me. Of course, I don't generally handle the produce, so
I'll have to check with my co-workers who do, but I suspect that this
statement is not 100% accurate. Some stores -- especially the big chains
(Hole Foods and/or Mall-Wart, anyone?) -- may do it this way, but I'm
fairly sure there are no hard and fast rules or industry standards about
any of this. Again, I'll check with my co-workers and their produce
distributors and get back to y'all.
In any case, your best and safest bet, if you didn't grow it yourself or
get it from a farmer you know and trust, is to buy organic (or
biodynamic, if it's available). Organic standards aren't perfect, and
they could certainly use some strengthening, but it's better than
guessing based on PLUs that may or may not be obvious.
Ben
Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:
>> I read an interesting tidbit in a magazine the other day about the
>> PLU numbers for produce at the grocery store -- maybe it is common
>> knowledge but it was news to me. All conventional produce have a
>> four digit code, organic produce has a 5 digit code that starts with
>> 9 and genetically modified produce has a 5 digit code that starts
>> with 8. I didn't realize they had to identify genetically modified
>> produce.
>>
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