trump being organic

Question

If there are five numbers in the PLU code, and the number starts with “8?, this tells you that the item is a genetically modified fruit or vegetable. Genetically modified fruits and vegetables trump being organic. So, it is possible to eat organic produce that are grown from genetically modified seeds. A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011.

Question:

Does 'trump' mean 'to palm off' or 'outdo/surpass'?

KXM · Accepted Answer

Outdo/surpass.
Trump generally has this meaning, coming from card games, such as whist or bridge, where the trump suit is the top-ranking suit in the game. I have never seen it used in any other polite context, although it can be used to mean ****, e.g "I don't know what you've eaten, but you've been trumping like a trooper all day."

Englishnj · Answer

Thanks! But isn't it a bit wierd to say ' Genetically modidied fruits outdo being organic'? What is more, if trump mean outdo in this context, how to understand the logic between ' genetically modified fruits outdo being organic' and 'so it is possible to eat organic produce grown from GMO seeds.'?

Avangi · Answer

I agree that "outdo" is not a great substitute.

The fact that it is genetically modified takes precedence over its being organic. Perhaps, "outweighs."

englishnjand 'so it is possible to eat organic produce grown from GMO seeds.'?

I don't think so. Its being GM is more of a bad thing than its being organic is a good thing. So don't eat it.

Organic is a somewhat good thing. GM is a very bad thing. Bad wins!

Actually, if a food is genetically modified, its being organic cannot possibly make up for that. That's a trump.
Organic (good) is the ace of hearts, but GM (bad) is the ace of spades. Spades trumps hearts. Bad wins!.

Englishnj · Answer

Thanks to Avangi! But still, I'm confused as to why the author says 'so it is possible to eat organic produce grown from GMO seeds' as a result of ' GMO fruits trump being organic'.
Like you said, 'trump' means 'to take precedence over' and the sentence in question should read ' GMO fruits' being bad as genetically modified takes precedence over its being good as organic. But how can this be the reason for 'so it is possible to eat organic fruits grown from GMO seeds.'? On the other hand, aren't GMO fruits and organic fruits two totally different things?

Avangi · Answer

<< So, it is possible to eat organic produce that are grown from genetically modified seeds.>>
You're absolutely right, english! I apologize all to heck!
I caught the first reply to your original post in moderation, and decided to hop on board. I should have paid more attention to your OP! Whoever wrote the material you presented has it completely wrong. (I got tied up in the "trump" controversy.)

What's your source for this statement? Are you sure you've copied it correctly?
Could it possibly be propaganda from GMO advocates trying to confuse us?
I don't think so. Why would they be tipping us off about the PLU code?

Regards, - A.

Englishnj · Answer

FYI
http://www.drfranklipman.com/what-do-those-codes-on-stickers-of-fruits-and-some-veggies-mean/

Avangi · Answer

I've learned something here about the difference between PLU codes (price look-up codes) and traditional bar codes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_look-up_code

The PLU codes are on the small round stickers on individual apples, oranges, bananas, etc.
If they're neither organic nor GMO, the PLU code has only four digits.
If you see five digits, the first digit can carry GMO or organic information.
"8" indicates organic and "9" indicates GMO, according to the Wikipedia ref. I noted above.
(This disagrees with what you've quoted in your original post.)

I'm wondering if your author was referring to the fact that only the numbers "8" and "9" are available.
That is, what do they do if the item is both GMO and organic?
Your author may be suggesting that in this case they use the code for GMO! (GMO trumps!)
(But he seems to have the numbers reversed.)

Edit: Thanks for the "FYI"! I'll check it out!

Englishnj · Answer

I tend to rephrase the sentence in question as below:

Genetically modified fruits and vegetalbes are sometimes sold as organic produce (fake organic), so you may be misled and buy them without knowing the fact that they are indeed genetically modified at all.

But I'm not very sure.

Avangi · Answer

HA! Your source says "so it is impossible to eat organic fruits grown from GMO seeds." !

He seems to be saying that GMO products cannot be labeled as "organic."
This is contrary to all the information I've heard on the radio.
My information is that the industry has refused to identify GMO products on the grounds that it would be too expensive.
Now I don't know what to believe. I'm totally confused!

Edit: I went back to the Wikipedia article. I screwed up again: I copied the numbers down with the opposite meanings.
"8" is for GM, and "9" is for organic. Sorry about that!

Note this statement from Wiki:
A fifth digit "may be adopted for use on non-conventionally grown product", such as organic (prefixed by a '9') or genetically modified (prefixed by an '8').

So this has not yet gone into effect! My radio information is correct !

Englishnj · Answer

Many thanks and I do appoligize for my terrible mistake!

trump being organic

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