I recently wrote an article for the Eataly staff newsletter. I wrote about the PLU codes on our produce and was surprised to learn that many people don't know about these stickers. Sure the PLU code is helpful to the cashier at checkout time, but after that we usually just consider them to be a pesky nuisance to remove.
Not so.....The PLU code stickers give us an idea of how our fruits and veges are grown. Here are a few tips that I've pulled together that I hope will help:
- All produce has its own code to begin with. For example, all broccolini will be labeled with code 3277.
- A code with four numbers beginning with either the #3 or #4 means that the produce was grown "conventionally" or "traditionally." Now before you find these terms comforting in a nostalgic kind of way, I want you to know that this means that they were grown with pesticides, and the growers could have applied poisons to the food, including herbicides and synthetic fertilizer.
- If there are five numbers in the code, beginning with "8", this tells us that our food has been geneticaly modified. So a GMO broccolini would be 83277. Now that being said, with the debate on all of this, and Monsanto lining the pockets of the powers that be, GMO's can still be snuck in under the 4 number codes described above. Bummer right?!
- When there are five numbers in the code and it begins with "9" then we know the food has been grown organically. Yay! So an example of an organic green apple would be 94017.
Incidentally, the adhesive used to attach the stickers is considered to be food-grade.
In all categories, there is limited regulation, even with organic, so we must be diligent, and educate ourselves on what is going on with our food, and what we put in our bodies, and the bodies of our loved ones.
It would be great if we could always choose organic, but depending on where you live, and your budget, it's not always possible. We need to prioritize our organic purchases. Here is a list of the "Dirty Dozen" fruits and veges that you should always try to by organic:
Apples, Bell Peppers, Blueberries, Celery, Cucumbers, Grapes, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries
My recommendation, especially this time of year, is to shop at farmers' markets and purchase locally as much as possible. The moral of this story is....know your PLU codes and live healthier and happier. Happy Weekend. Buon Weekend.
Big Love to You, PatriciaG
If you feel inspired to share, please do so in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you. Grazie! Most of my photos are available for sale on my Etsy shop. If you see something on this site that isn't on Etsy, just shoot me an email and I'll make it available. All rights reserved. Copyright 2015 Patricia Geremia