RE: Fwd: [SoFlaVegans] Produce Codes: Bioengineered, Organically gorwn, or Conventionally grown

[Guest guest]

Elaine, As always......Thanks for the information. What does it mean when the PLU starts with the number 3 with four digits in the number? ~CynthiaR Fells <n3vpu wrote: Note: forwarded message attached. Ronald A. Fells N3VPU Amateur Radio Operator SoFlaVegans From: "Faith" <ninisinnaWed, 03 Jan 2007 02:37:41 -0000[soFlaVegans] Produce Codes: Bioengineered, Organically gorwn, or Conventionally grown Pick a pear at the grocery store -- or an apple, tomato or banana, forthat matter -- and you'll notice that it wears a little stickercontaining a mysterious number such as 4035, 94035 or 84011. Thenumbers on produce are a code that tells if the fruit or vegetable isbioengineered, organically grown or conventionally grown (withpesticides, herbicides, etc.).Here's the key:• A four-digit number means the

fruit or vegetable has beenconventionally grown using pesticides or herbicides.• An organically grown fruit or vegetable has a five-digit numberbeginning with 9.• Genetically modified produce has a five-digit number beginning with8. (Not many of these around, though. Most bioengineered food is foundin processed foods.)Called "price look-up numbers," or "PLUs," these number codes aren'tintended for consumers. Indeed, no official regulatory agency overseesthem. The Produce Marketing Association, an industry trade group,developed the numbering system to provide produce sellers a better wayto track inventory and to make sure the price being charged isaccurate. (A conventionally grown tomato may look the same as anorganic one, but the price usually isn't.)Stay tuned, however. Those sometimes irritating stickers may be goingaway. You're likely to soon see produce sporting tattoos rather thanstickers.

Information laser-imprinted into the skin eliminates thesticker and, some say, allows for better tracking, tracing andprotection against bioterrorism.Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 PortlandAv. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mailfixit (AT) startribune (DOT) com. Past columns are available atwww.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individualreplies. Fixit appears daily in Source except on Friday and Sunday.

[Guest guest]

3 is genetically modified (GMO)

9 is organic

 

 

 

Nancy Parlette

HEALTHY LIVING STRATEGIES

Natural Health Counselor

Nutrition Educator

ENERGIZING YOU FOR LIVING!

 

(410) 531-2410

http://www.healthylivingstrategies.net/

 

 

On Behalf

Of Cynthia Martin

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 4:41 PM

 

Re: Fwd: [soFlaVegans] Produce Codes: Bioengineered,

Organically gorwn, or Conventionally grown

 

 

 

Elaine,

As always......Thanks for the information. What does it mean when the

PLU starts with the number 3 with four digits in the number?

 

~Cynthia

[Guest guest]

9 is organic IF the code consists of 5 digits, not 4.

Elchanan

 

 

On Behalf Of

pnparlette

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 6:03 PM

 

RE: Fwd: [soFlaVegans] Produce Codes: Bioengineered,

Organically gorwn, or Conventionally grown

 

3 is genetically modified (GMO)

9 is organic