There are about 400 varieties of bananas grown today. The kind you’re most likely to see in your supermarket is the Cavendish. Price Look Up codes went into use in 1990 to identify the type of produce being sold in a grocery story. There are over 1,300 PLU codes, currently in the 3000-4999 range, administered by the International Federation for Produce Standards, an affiliate of the Produce Marketing Association. The system has become a widespread standard, but is voluntary for grocers.

 

The code system does offer retailers a way to distinguish GMOs (genetically modified organism): Four digit PLU codes are for conventionally-grown food, while the pre-fix 8 is suggested for use on GMO foods, and the pre-fix 9 identifies organic fruits and vegetables. If the grocer is using the PLU codes as suggested, a conventional banana is #4011, an organic banana with #94011, and genetically modified is #84011. 

 

 

The code system does offer retailers a way to distinguish GMOs (genetically modified organism): Four digit PLU codes are for conventionally-grown food, while the pre-fix 8 is suggested for use on GMO foods, and the pre-fix 9 identifies organic fruits and vegetables. If the grocer is using the PLU codes as suggested, a conventional banana is #4011, an organic banana with #94011, and genetically modified is #84011. 

 

According to Murray, Australian producers and retailers routinely use both 4000 and 5000 numbers from the PLU register.