At a guess, 4011 is the product code on the sticker of the bananas the cartoonist had in his kitchen. You know, the number the cashier types into the register while weighing the bananas you’re buying.
Yep, I just saw this on another “explain the joke” board. According to Google, 4011 is the Price Look-Up (PLU) code for a conventionally grown banana, indicating it was produced using traditional farming methods, possibly with pesticides. This four-digit code is used internationally to identify the type and growing method of produce, with the first digit indicating conventional growth.
“The code system does offer retailers a way to distinguish GMOs (genetically modified organism): Four digit PLU codes are for conventionally-grown food, while the pre-fix 8 is suggested for use on GMO foods, and the pre-fix 9 identifies organic fruits and vegetables. If the grocer is using the PLU codes as suggested, a conventional banana is #4011, an organic banana with #94011, and genetically modified is #84011.”
That organic coding (9 prefix, e.g. 94011) is often used, because organic foods carry a price premium that the grocer wants to capture. Because that 8 GMO prefix (like all PLU codes) is voluntary, it’s seldom seen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on any produce. Who wants to advertise that your product is GMO?
Not the most immediately evident gag, but I suspect produce product codes are likely becoming more common knowledge among the general public due to the prevalence of self-checkout stands, where folks may and do enter codes like 4011 before weighing their own bananas.
4011 is indeed on the bananas I just bought. I never have had to enter their codes, because the self-check stations have a scanners that try to ID the product. It is usually successful with bananas, but if not then the “no code” selection has bananas as one of the first options.
Glad the PLU codes did not exist during my brief time as a supermarket cashier. It was bad enough ringing up the items (no scanning back then in the early 1970s) and finding the prices for them when not marked on the items.
(I was NOT technically fired after the first 2 months – they just stopped giving me hours. Worked out well for me I got a job in the fine jewelry department of a local discount home goods store. (If you lived on Long Island it was in Westbury.)
Comics I Don't Understand 
At a guess, 4011 is the product code on the sticker of the bananas the cartoonist had in his kitchen. You know, the number the cashier types into the register while weighing the bananas you’re buying.
Yep, I just saw this on another “explain the joke” board. According to Google, 4011 is the Price Look-Up (PLU) code for a conventionally grown banana, indicating it was produced using traditional farming methods, possibly with pesticides. This four-digit code is used internationally to identify the type and growing method of produce, with the first digit indicating conventional growth.
There’s another “explain the joke” board?!
Full set of PLU codes for bananas:
3170 BANANAS, Retailer assigned (Figo)
3287 BANANAS, Hawaiian Plantain
4011 BANANAS, Yellow (Cavendish)
4186 BANANAS, Yellow, Small
4229 BANANAS, Burro
4230 BANANAS, Dominique
4231 BANANAS, Green
4232 BANANAS, Leaves
4233 BANANAS, Manzano/Apple
4235 BANANAS, Plantains/Macho
4236 BANANAS, Red
4237 BANANAS, Retailer Assigned (Prata)
4238 BANANAS, Retailer Assigned (Nanica, D’Agua) / Zwergbanane
“The code system does offer retailers a way to distinguish GMOs (genetically modified organism): Four digit PLU codes are for conventionally-grown food, while the pre-fix 8 is suggested for use on GMO foods, and the pre-fix 9 identifies organic fruits and vegetables. If the grocer is using the PLU codes as suggested, a conventional banana is #4011, an organic banana with #94011, and genetically modified is #84011.”
That organic coding (9 prefix, e.g. 94011) is often used, because organic foods carry a price premium that the grocer wants to capture. Because that 8 GMO prefix (like all PLU codes) is voluntary, it’s seldom seen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on any produce. Who wants to advertise that your product is GMO?
Not the most immediately evident gag, but I suspect produce product codes are likely becoming more common knowledge among the general public due to the prevalence of self-checkout stands, where folks may and do enter codes like 4011 before weighing their own bananas.
4011 is indeed on the bananas I just bought. I never have had to enter their codes, because the self-check stations have a scanners that try to ID the product. It is usually successful with bananas, but if not then the “no code” selection has bananas as one of the first options.
Glad the PLU codes did not exist during my brief time as a supermarket cashier. It was bad enough ringing up the items (no scanning back then in the early 1970s) and finding the prices for them when not marked on the items.
(I was NOT technically fired after the first 2 months – they just stopped giving me hours. Worked out well for me I got a job in the fine jewelry department of a local discount home goods store. (If you lived on Long Island it was in Westbury.)
Colonialstitcher? ;)