Cracking the produce codes
By Jay Weinstein, Forecast Earth Food Correspondent
Posted Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:44am PDT
Link to full article:
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/forecast...uce-codes.html
excerpt: (quoting)
Quote:
The secret is the price look-up (PLU) codes. They're an international numbering standard that identifies each type of produce, so that computerized cash registers can ring up the cost of fruits and vegetables automatically. They're also a powerhouse of information for savvy shoppers. The code indicates whether the item is a conventional, organic or genetically modified (GM) crop.
The codes are based on four-digit numbers for conventional produce, to which an extra digit is added to indicate organic or GM status. If the number is five digits beginning with a 9, then the item is organic. If the item is five digits beginning in 8, then it is a genetically modified crop.
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