PLU Codes: The Tiny Stickers That Actually Mean Something
You know those little stickers on fruits and veggies? The ones you’re peeling off with your fingernail while wondering if it’s edible? (I tried. Not advised.) Well, guess what? Those stickers aren’t there just to annoy you—they actually do something. They’re like little grocery hieroglyphs that identify your produce and, believe it or not, they can tell you some interesting stuff.
PLU Codes = The License Plates of Produce
Yep, you heard me right. PLU codes are the DMV of the produce aisle. Instead of telling you the name of the person who just cut you off, these numbers tell you what type of produce you’ve grabbed. Here’s how it works:
4-digit codes: Starts with a 3 or 4. This is your standard, conventionally grown produce—basically the four-door sedan of fruits and veggies. It’s reliable and nothing too fancy.
Example: Code 4011? Your basic banana, just trying to live its best life before becoming someone’s sad banana bread.
5-digit codes starting with 9: Now you’re talking organic. These guys are like the vanity plates of produce—showing off their pesticide-free, free-range lifestyle.
Example: 94011? That’s an organic banana, living its gluten-free dream in your eco-friendly shopping cart.
5-digit codes starting with 8: Things get interesting here—8 means genetically modified (GMO). Think of it as a banana with a 4k license plate issued by the Space Force. But good luck spotting one, they're rare.
Example: 84011? A GMO banana, more elusive than a Costco parking spot on a Saturday.
Do All The Numbers Matter?
Short answer: Nah. Long answer: The first number is doing all the heavy lifting. It’s the part that tells you how the produce was grown. The other numbers are basically filler. In fact, PLU codes are universal across the U.S. and other countries—thanks to the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS), which makes sure your banana code is the same wherever you shop.
The Bulk Section: The Wild West of Produce Codes
Now let’s talk bulk. You know that moment when you scoop up way too many almonds and then try to dump half back without looking suspicious? Yeah, we’ve all been there. But here’s the catch: bulk codes aren’t PLU codes. They’re store-specific. So if you don’t write it down, you’re gonna be that person holding up the line while the cashier tries to figure out which almond bin you raided. Looking at you, Susan at Sprouts.
That #4135 Gala Apple with the Gee Whiz logo has a QR code that goes to a YouTube video. I like it.
Are PLU Stickers Living Their Best Lives?
Here’s where I had my real estate-inspired epiphany (yeah, I’m going there): Are we really using these stickers to their highest and best use? If I’m gonna stick something on my apple, I want it to do more than just say, "Hey, I’m organic." Why not give us more info?
Imagine scanning the QR code on your banana and getting this story:
Harvest: August 25, 2024 – Your banana was picked in Colombia, near Urabá.
Packaged: August 26, 2024 – After being sorted and washed, it was packed into crates.
Shipped: August 28, 2024 – The bananas traveled to Cartagena, Colombia on cargo truck, then via a refrigerated ship (they call reefers), maintaining optimal ripeness.
Arrived at Miami Port: September 5, 2024 – Cleared customs and passed USDA inspection.
Ripened: September 8, 2024 – Sent to a ripening facility in Florida.
Delivered to Store: September 12, 2024 – Now available in California, ready to eat!
It’s just an idea. The little sticker has too much potential to be a simple number.
Check out Super Fresh Growers on YouTube
Fun Fact: The ‘8’ Might Go Bye-Bye
That 8 for GMOs? It’s barely used, and it might be phased out. So if you spot an 8, take a picture because it’s basically the rare Pokémon of the produce world. Seriously, blink and you’ll miss it. Actually, email it to me.
Why Should You Care About PLU Codes?
Look, understanding PLU codes probably won’t change your life, but it will make you look like a total genius at the grocery store. Want organic? Look for the 9. Don’t care? Stick with the 4. And for the love of all that’s holy, write down the right bulk bin code unless you enjoy the death stare from the cashier as they walk across the store to figure out which chia seeds you picked up.
And if you ever get tired of being a badass personal grocery professional delivering happiness, and you’d like to enter the grocery world, having a clearer understanding of how that world works can be beneficial to your chances of being hired. Learning more about grocery while shopping for others will increase the value you provide to those around you. As a personal grocery shopper, the store can be a giant classroom if you want it to be.
Just think about it.
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Save Mart #089 @ Akers & Goshen | Visalia, Tulare County, California
In Summary:
4 digits = Conventionally grown (starts with 3 or 4).
5 digits starting with 9 = Organic (fancy stuff).
5 digits starting with 8 = Genetically modified (but you’ll rarely see it).
Bulk items? Store-specific codes, so don’t mix them up with PLUs!
Now that you know the secret language of produce, go forth and dominate the grocery aisle like a pro. For farmers and distributors considering a produce rebranding, the QR code has potential in providing additional marketing opportunities with consumer interaction and feedback, and the conversion shouldn’t be costly. Something to think about.
