So what about Decoding Produce Codes? Well, when I was recently in Hawaii I was talking to a friend about grocery store codes, and someone recently asked me about it here yesterday in LA. Hence this topic was on my mind! When shopping at the market, most individual fruits are labeled with stickers. Not so at the farmer’s market, but all regular markets. Have you ever wondered what all those little digits mean? And wondered if there is any rhyme or reason to them? Maybe you’ve never really paid attention to them, except to think they were a nuisance that you had to rip off so you wouldn’t accidentally bite into them!
I used to think they were random and only corresponded to each grocery store. But then I discovered that there is actually a uniform system! It is set up by the International Federation for Produce Standards. Doesn’t that sound so official and serious?? There are only a few basics you have to be aware of, and then you can always be sure you are buying organic produce. Buying organic ensures we are getting the highest quality produce with the greatest amount of health and promoting minerals. It also supports sustainable farming practices that don’t use pesticides. Buying certified organic produce is the only way to ensure that we are not consuming genetically modified (GMO) produce, which unfortunately does not have any labeling codes to abide by (!). Genetically modified foods have been altered from their original form, and may introduce allergenic or toxic characteristics to foods. The way GMO foods are grown is detrimental to the environment.
Here are the basics:
Organic produce: Always begins with a 9 and has a PLU number that is 5 digits long.
Here’s an example: Organic Bosc Pear #93296
Conventional produce: Always begins with a 4 and has a PLU number that is 4 digits long.
Here’s an example: Conventional Bosc Pear #4568
So always check to be sure that you purchase produce that begins with a “9” on the PLU code on the sticker – as much as possible!
Now that you’re aware of the number system, it is kind of fun to know that you know a little something about the coding for grocery stores! You can feel like a grocery store “insider.” 🙂 Go ahead and check it out next time you are at the store!
Take care and have a wonderful weekend!! I’m going to my best to get my butt hiking again this weekend, and will make sure to pack a post workout snack!
I send my love,
Kimberly
Hi Kim,
Thank you for the useful information and as much as my wallet allow me I try to buy organic products, so I will be looking for that 9 number!
Have a nice weekend!!!
And yes indeed enjoy your shopping a little pampering yourself is always good. I bought a dress for this season. I had noticed over the years than since the cold weather in NY had an emotional impact on me at least looking my best cheer me up!
Besos,
Claudia
Very helpful and informative, Kim. Enjoy your hike. 🙂 I’m planning to hike soon, too.
lol I work in a grocery store, so I was like “Oh, I know this!” We don’t sell NEARLY enough organic produce, though. It sucks. And it makes trying new things, well…trying to say the least. But I do get happy when I do notice more and more items! 🙂 I notice the more I pickup the more they have on hand. At first all I could afford were the bananas, and now I buy the organic Granny Smiths–they are always prettier and greener and have more seeds than the regular ones.
Hi Kimberly,
I wanted to note that one was forgotten, and that is the stickers that begin with an “8”, that is for produce that is genetically modified.
Have a great weekend and welcome to LA
Awesome! Who knew? Thanks so much for sharing! I’ll be sure to look at them! Don’t know if you saw the recent scare couple wks ago that a number of Farmer’s Markets that ‘claimed’ to be organic and grown at their location were in fact not and had been tested to have a number of chemicals on them. Anyways, I still like to shop at them too, especially now that I’ll know what to look for!
Is there a way to tell on berries or greens?
Hi –
I love your blog and all the knowledge and inspiring wonderful energy you share. Now that you are in LA – do you have any yoga places to recommend? I have been wanting to incorporate yoga into my life but have not found the right class for me. Thanks Kimberly and LA is so lucky to have you (even if just temporary!)
I’d never given those codes any thought; good info to know! Thanks for sharing this.
Indeed Kim, without good health and beauty, you can’t enjoy your family. You can’t enjoy freedom. You can’t enjoy financial wealth or much of anything else for that matter. Truly, the quality of our lives depends on maintaining good health and beauty.
hi kimberly : )