PLU

PLU

n. “Produce Look-Up (Code),” or “Price Look-Up (Code).” A numeric code, usually four digits, possibly five, on produce labels which is used by checkout cashiers to link the fruits or vegetables customers bring to be placed on their register's scale to the appropriate PRICE on a written list or in the STORE'S computer.

NOTE: The PLU is such a fixture of the GROCERY scene that nowadays almost nobody knows what the letters stand for—and that includes lots of people working in Produce departments! There's also some debate about whether PLUs are standardized across different stores and in different areas of the country. Most likely the answer is that the industry is in the process of promoting its standards. Different PLUs for different stores and different areas of the country makes no sense.

In any case, CUSTOMERS who use the U-SCAN self-checkout lanes can lookup PLUs themselves on a nearby chart, or get assistance from the overseeing U-SCAN operator.

According to one source, the usual produce PLUs of 4 digits (4011 for bananas, for example) are conventionally grown, whereas organically grown produce PLUs consist of 5 numbers, with the first number always 9 (94011, for example). Genetically modified produce PLUs have 5 digits, with first number is always 8 (84011, for example—and no, I haven't yet seen one).

Another thing I haven't yet seen is a 6-digit PLU, which “zero defects”-style posters in the BREAK ROOM cite as one specific cause of SHRINK. Thing is, none of the CASHIERS I've asked has been able to explain it to me either. Maybe that's why there's a problem!