Produce Sticker Guide
What produce stickers tell you, using banana PLUs 4011 and 94011 as examples.
4011 vs. 94011
4011 identifies conventional yellow bananas. 94011 identifies organic yellow bananas. For assigned four-digit PLUs in the 3000 and 4000 series, the organic form adds a 9 before the base code.
| Sticker code | Produce | Growing method |
|---|---|---|
| 4011 | Yellow banana, including Cavendish | Conventional |
| 94011 | Yellow banana, including Cavendish | Organic |
How to read a produce sticker
- Find the printed four- or five-digit number. This is the price look-up (PLU) code. Stores use it to identify loose produce at checkout. A sticker can also carry a barcode with a separate identifier.
- Look up the whole code. The number can identify a commodity, variety, size, or growing method. The individual digits of a four-digit PLU have no separate meaning.
- Check the retailer if the result differs from the label. The International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) sets aside codes that retailers can assign for their own use. Their meaning can vary by retailer.
What else does the sticker tell you?
The PLU identifies the produce for checkout. For country of origin, check the sticker text or shelf label. For organic certification, check the certification label or ask the retailer.
Read the IFPS guide to PLU codes and retailer-assigned numbers, or browse the PLU Finder catalogue.