[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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