{"id":4350,"date":"2025-01-17T19:14:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T19:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitadelphia.com\/?p=4350"},"modified":"2025-01-17T19:14:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T19:14:07","slug":"why-ill-never-buy-another-fruit-or-vegetable-without-the-codes-rule-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitadelphia.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/17\/why-ill-never-buy-another-fruit-or-vegetable-without-the-codes-rule-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I\u2019ll Never Buy Another Fruit or Vegetable Without the \u201cCodes Rule\u201d Again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ali Domrongchai<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Produce
Credit: andresr \/ Getty Images Credit: andresr \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generate Key Takeaways<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and\/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the country, self-checkout has become the new normal<\/a>. What used to be reserved for in-and-out trips for a handful of groceries (I still remember when it used to be exclusively 15 items or less), these stand-alone kiosks are now the default option for many, including shoppers with carts filled to the brim. The technology has gotten noticeably smoother in recent years, and certain retailers (eh hem, Aldi) even plaster oversized barcodes across packaged items<\/a> to speed things up even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One section you don\u2019t find these giant time-savers, though? Produce. Specifically the loose fruit and vegetables, like apples, bananas, broccoli, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I buy a lot<\/em> of produce, so I know firsthand how tricky it is to scan each item and, when that fails, then type in the name of said item on the screen because the machine didn\u2019t register the notoriously small barcode on my avocado (fun times!). Recently I picked up a new tip from our senior groceries editor, Mara, that eliminates loads of produce barcode scanning and<\/em> makes self-checkout feel like an express lane. The trick is to memorize the Price Lookup (PLU) codes (or produce codes) on your favorite produce items<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Ali Domrongchai Credit: Ali Domrongchai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Exactly Are PLU Codes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You know that small sticker with the tiny barcode on an avocado or apple? That barcode typically also has a series of four or five-digit numbers above (or below) it. That\u2019s the PLU code. First introduced in the 1990s<\/a> by supermarkets across the country (and even globally), the goal of these codes was to make checkout and inventory control faster and more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four-digit codes are the most common and used for conventional produce, while five-digit produce codes are generally reserved for organic produce. To make it even more streamlined, organic produce PLU codes are typically the conventional four-digit code, with a 9 in the front. For example, a banana\u2019s conventional code is 4011<\/strong>, while organic bananas are 94011<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Ali Domrongchai Credit: Ali Domrongchai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why You Should Memorize PLU Codes for Your Favorite Items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since their standardization almost 30 years ago, the sticker codes seen on fruit and vegetables have pretty much become consistent across grocery stores. That means you can memorize the four or five-digit codes on the produce items you buy most often (bananas, blueberries, lettuce, etc), and apply them at practically any grocery store. So instead of finnicking with the (often lagging) touch screen or attempting to scan the miniature code, you can simply type in that four-digit number you now know by heart to make checkout much faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Few PLU Codes to Keep in Mind for Your Next Grocery Shop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For most of us, it\u2019s unrealistic to memorize an entire grocery store\u2019s worth of product codes. I recommend you start small and memorize a handful of codes for your go-to produce picks; it\u2019ll save you time and hassle. You can search for specific codes on the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS)<\/a>. In the meantime, here are a few of my favorites to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"popular
Credit: Photos: Shutterstock; Design: The Kitchn Credit: Photos: Shutterstock; Design: The Kitchn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n



Got a tip to make grocery shopping easier and more enjoyable? Tell us about them in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sign up for The Kitchn’s Daily newsletter to receive our best recipes, posts, and shopping tips in your inbox.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ali Domrongchai Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and\/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product<\/p>\n

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