How to read the numbers on the stickers on fruit:
"[T]he sticker labels on fruit: The numbers tell you how the fruit was grown. Conventionally grown fruit has four digits; organically grown fruit has five and starts with a nine; genetically engineered has five numbers and starts with an eight."
Update: A reader points us to "More than anyone would want to know about produce stickers":
A local grocery carries Buddha's Hand fruit (aka Fingered Citron) when in season, but they didn't always tag it with the little stickers, nor have a proper price posted in produce. So any time I bought one, checkout always involved the cashier looking confused, calling over the chief cashier, who called over to produce for someone, who called over to the shift produce manager, who called over to the store produce manager… who picked something random (and therefore massively underpriced). Amusing, when I wasn't in a hurry.
Having some time on my hands at one point, I went looking on-line to try and find the code, but didn't. (The store used a "Retailer Assigned" PLU, 4469 IIR). I did find the IFPC website (see link), with more than any "normal" person would want to know about PLU codes, and a searchable database of all of the assigned codes.
I eventually mentioned the problem to the store's general manager when I ran into him, who turned understandably ashen. Since then, I've noticed all of their exotic produce is properly stickered, and has MUCH clearer price labeling and item descriptions.
