What the stickers mean

Following on from my recent post on the ethics of cheap goods, illustrated with a picture of the stickers on apples, I wanted to let you know about one of the most interesting posts I've read in ages. Over at the Acorns blog, Marion Owens explains how to decode the stickers on fruit:

+ Four-digit numbers denote conventionally grown produce (that is, grown with chemicals)
+ Five digits beginning with 8, genetically modified
+ Five digits beginning with a 9 means organically grown.

Reading this post was one of those epiphanies: I can't think of how many times I've picked away at these annoying little gluey things without really thinking about what the numbers printed on them mean. I'm now examining every single fruit sticker I can get my hands on, fascinated by them all. And by the wonder of the internet, it's easy to find out just about everything I could possibly want to know about them: from how to collect fruit stickers to a searchable database of the numbers on the stickers - known in the business as PLU codes. I'm glad to say I am not the only one with this obsession.

This burgeoning passion is a bit of a love-hate relationship though, because these stickers are still bloody irritating. They don't biodegrade, for one thing. Is it really too much to ask for a fruit sticker that will rot down in the compost heap?

Comments

[Rhys]

Hmm, that's really interesting - thanks

[Podchef]

You've had me scrambling over the fruit bowl checking every piece to see how many 9's and 8's I can find. Fortunately more 9's. . .this time. . . . Thanks for a great post.

[Maureen]

This is great to know. Thanks for sharing.

[LaDonna]

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS 3107 MEAN? I FOUND THIS NUMBER ON MY ORANGES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE CONVENTIONAL,ORGANICALLY OR GENETICALLY GROWN PLEASE HELP.