Price Look-Up Codes

Price look-up (PLU) codes are 4- or 5-digit numbers printed on stickers that are adhered to produce sold in bulk, bunched, or loose form. PLU codes are primarily used for fresh fruits and vegetables but can also be found on some related products such as herbs and nuts. About one third of the food consumed by Americans today comprises these kinds of foods that use a PLU code. PLU codes are a relevant element of the industrial food system because they allow for efficient sale of fresh produce items; this efficiency benefits corporate vendors but adds little information to the consumer at the point of purchase.

A 4-digit PLU signifies conventional produce. The 5th digit is a prefix added to existing codes. The only 5th-digit prefixes ...

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