Look at stickers carefully!
Have you ever seen these stickers when you buy fruit?
These stickers contain important information.
You may have thought it would be just simple trademark.
BUT! there is important number call 'PLU' on stickers
And what is 'PLU'?
It is 'Price look-up codes', commonly called PLU codes, PLU numbers, PLUs, produce codes, or produce labels, are identification numbers affixed to produce in grocery stores and supermarkets to make check-out and inventory control easier, faster, and more accurate. The code is a four- or five-digit number. The four digit PLU codes for produce are assigned randomly within the 3000 and 4000 series, identifying the type of bulk produce, and often including the variety.
Organic produce may be differentiated from regular produce by placing "9" in front of the usual PLU - for example, bananas are identified by the PLU 4011, so organic bananas are 94011. In the future, the 83000 and 84000 series will be used; however, unlike the "9", the leading "8" will not denote a general category. At one time "8" numbers were reserved for GMO products, but they were opened for general use after GMO growers didn't use them.
The codes have been in use since 1990. Over 1400 PLU codes have been assigned.[1] Use of PLU codes eliminates the need for grocery store checkers to identify each variety of produce visually. This saves time especially as the organic produce market has expanded; organic and conventional oranges, for example, may look the same but have different prices.
The system is administered by the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS), a global coalition of fruit and vegetable associations, formed in 2001, "as equal partners to pursue the task of introducing a global standard for the use of international Price Look-Up (PLU) numbers".
If you hard to understand, i'll explain this easily and more detail.
First.
second.
- #xxxxx_A five-digit number
#8xxxx: it means 'Genetically modified fruit '
#9xxxx: it means ' Organic products '
And now, let's practice with some examples~
The number of PLU in apple is #84131
so we can figure out that this apple is 'Genetically modified fruit '
easy? right?
let's practice another~
This Banana's PLU number is #4011
so we can figure out that this banana is 'Grow using pesticides product'
So, We have learned about plu so far.
From now on, I hope you'll not compare only costs, brands, but also want to compare the numbers on the stickers to eat more delicious and healthy fruits~!
Thanks for watching~ and if you like this post, please follow me @sonsj0513~