When I shop at Giant, bananas are always produce code 4011. I used to think the code was specific to this grocery store, but Chiquita puts a branding sticker on with that number on it. So I assume it’s the same for all stores. Similarly nearly all produce these days (in conventional supermarkets) has little stickers with the produce code number.
How does the industry avoid code collisions? Is there a central clearinghouse for issuing those codes?
It is an industry standard, and surprisingly specific. There are about 100 PLU codes just for different sizes and strains of apples.
Price Look-Up (PLU) codes are assigned to produce by the International Federation for Produce Standards. " IFPS is a coalition of fruit and vegetable associations from the around the globe that joined together in 2001 as equal partners to pursue the task of introducing a global standard for the use of international Price Look-Up (PLU) numbers."