Produce Product Knowledge - Price Look-Up (PLU) Codes for Cashiers

In this topic, learners are taught what On-The-Vine, Beefsteak, Roma, Heirloom, and Vine Ripe tomatoes look like, so they can correctly identify them at their register.

• Questions (level 1, 2, 3)

This topic is currently available in English.

1. If you are unsure what variety a tomato is, inspect it for a PLU (Price Look-Up) sticker. If there isn't one, ask the customer what kind of tomato they are purchasing. Don’t guess or enter the wrong code since it may cause the customer to pay more or less for the product and can cause errors in inventory.

2. On-The-Vine tomatoes or Cluster tomatoes have their stems and vine intact, with three to five tomatoes on the vine. They are firm to the touch. They are medium-sized, have a round shape and are plump with shiny red skin.

3. Red Beefsteak tomatoes are large (baseball-sized), firm tomatoes with a thinner skin. They can sometimes have ribbed skin (as opposed to smooth skin). Stems may or may not be attached.

4. Roma tomatoes, or Italian plum tomatoes, are medium-sized and oblong shaped. They are slender, dense, and firm to the touch. They may also be called paste tomatoes.

5. Heirloom tomatoes or Heritage tomatoes come in a variety of sizes and colors. They usually have an irregular shape and often have ribbed or striped skin.

6. Vine Ripe tomatoes have ripened on the vine and are only picked when ripe. They can’t necessarily be identified by sight so it’s important to check the PLU (Price Look-Up) sticker.

This topic explores some of the most popular varieties of unpackaged lettuce. Lettuces covered in this topic include Red and Green Leaf lettuce, Romaine, Boston and Bibb lettuce, as well as Belgian Endive.

• Questions (level 1, 2, 3)

This topic is currently available in English.

1. If you are unsure what variety of lettuce it is, inspect it for a PLU (Price Look-Up) sticker or band. If there isn't one, ask the customer what kind of lettuce they are purchasing. Don’t guess or enter the wrong code since it may cause the customer to pay more or less for the product and can cause errors in inventory.

2. Red Leaf lettuce has broad leaves that may be ruffled or smooth. The leaves connect to a central stalk, not a head. The edges of the leaves are dark burgundy to red and the leaves fade to pale green or white closer to the stalk. The PLU is 4075.

3. Green Leaf lettuce has broad leaves that may leaves that may be ruffled or smooth. The leaves connect to a central stalk, not a head. The edges of the leaves are dark to bright green, and fade to pale green or white closer to the stalk.

4. Romaine lettuce has an elongated shape and long, stiff leaves. The outer leaves are broad and dark green and have a firm, lighter colored rib down the center.

5. Boston lettuce is a round head of lettuce. It has broad, loose, soft, green leaves that are frilled and thick at the edges. Boston lettuce is a variety of Butterhead lettuce. It is larger and fluffier than Bibb lettuce.

6. Bibb lettuce is a small, round head of lettuce. It has soft, green, loose leaves. It is a type of butterhead lettuce and is smaller than Boston lettuce. It is considered a specialty lettuce.

7. Red Belgian Endive has an oval shape. The leaves sit tightly together and are white with red to burgundy edges. It has a soft, satiny texture.

8. Belgian Endive has an oval shape. The leaves sit tightly together and are white with yellow edges. It has a soft, satiny texture.

Leafy greens aren’t always sold bunched or in packages, so this topic describes seven of the most popular varieties. These include Curly, Lacinato, and Red Kale, Spinach, as well as Dandelion, Collard, and Mustard greens. Finally, learners are taught how to identify four different varieties of cabbage, from Napa to Savoy, and Green and Red cabbage.

• Questions (level 1, 2, 3)

This topic is currently available in English.

1. If you are unsure what type of leafy green or cabbage it is, inspect it for a PLU (price-look up) sticker or band. If there isn't one, ask the customer what type of produce they are purchasing.

2. Curly Kale has long stems and large, frilly-edged leaves that are bright to deep green. It is often sold as loose leaves bound together.

3. Lacinato Kale is also called Dinosaur Kale or Tuscan Cabbage. It has dark blue-green leaves that are slender and long. The leaves are slightly wrinkled, but the edges are not frilly or curly. It is often sold as loose leaves bound together.

4. Red or Russian Kale has burgundy or purple stems. The leaves are large and flat and can resemble oak leaves. They are dark green and can sometimes have a purple tint.

5. Spinach has spoon-shaped leaves that are dark green. Baby spinach has smaller, more delicate leaves than the thicker leaves of mature, fully formed spinach.

6. Dandelion Greens are the green leaves of the dandelion plant. The leaves are light green to dark green and have toothed or jagged edges. The stems are slender and may be green or red.

7. Mustard Greens have elongated, oval shaped, green leaves that have frilled or scalloped edges. They have coarse, strong stems.

8. Collard Greens have large dark green leaves with light green or white ribs and veins. The leaves are thick and paddle-shaped. The stalks are very tough and strong.

9. Napa cabbage is a larger oblong or oval shaped cabbage. The leaves are delicate and crinkled, can be yellow to light green, and have white veins that cover the leaves. The stems are white and get thicker closer to the base of the head.

10. Green Savoy is a round cabbage and its leaves range from light to deep green and are curly and deeply ridged. The leaves are looser than Green cabbage and are much more wrinkly.

11. Green Cabbage is a large, firm, round cabbage. It has pronounced veins and tightly packed pale green leaves that feel slightly waxy.

12. Red Cabbage is firm and round. It has tightly wound smooth leaves that feel slightly waxy. The leaves are more burgundy and violet than a true red color.

Apples are a common purchase for many shoppers, and there are many varieties for them to choose from. In this topic, learners are taught characteristics of nine of the most popular varieties of apples: Cortland, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Pink Lady, and Red Delicious.

Please note: The PLU (Price Look-Up) codes for the apples will need to be adjusted depending on the size and origin of the apples you sell.

• Questions (level 1, 2, 3)

This topic is currently available in English.

1. If you are unsure of the type of apple it is, inspect it for a PLU (Price-Look Up) sticker. If there isn't one, ask the customer what type of apple they are purchasing.

2. Cortland apples are medium to large apples and are considered to have a flat round shape. They are bright red with dark red streaks, and often have a green blush.

3. Fuji apples are medium to large apples that have a round to oval shape and can be slightly lopsided. They have light red skin with a yellow blush and often have red stripes.

4. Gala apples are medium sized and have an oblong shape, often taller than they are wide. They have thin, yellow to orange skin, with light red stripes or blush.

5. Golden Delicious are small to medium sized apples with a round to oblong shape. They have thin skin that is pale green to yellow or gold. They also sometimes have a bright pink blush on the skin.

6. Granny Smith apples have thick, bright green skin that may be speckled with faint white spots. They are medium to large apples that are round to oblong in shape.

7. Honeycrisp apples are medium to large apples that have an oblong shape and are often wider at the top. They have a light green or yellow background that is covered with a red to red-orange blush. They may be speckled with small yellow spots.

8. McIntosh apples are small to medium size and are round, wide apples. They have bright red skin, with bright green patches, and are often speckled with white spots.

9. Pink Lady apples are medium sized and have a round to asymmetrical shape. The skin is a rosy bright pink with some green undertones and slight speckling.

10. Red Delicious apples are medium sized and are round and broad at the top and smaller at the base. They have bright to deep red skin and may be speckled with faint white spots.