UPC Numbers and Label Templates for Farmers and Food Producers

If you want to succeed in selling your products to grocery stores, the most important thing after consistent quality and reliable delivery is to label your products with UPC bar codes. Once your UPC numbers are in the store’s computer your products become part of their standard inventory. Sales become replacing depleted inventory. Originally managed by the Uniform Code Counsel(UCC), the UPC consists of 12 numbers. The first six are the company ID number, numbers 7 thru eleven identify the product and the last number is the check sum, a calculated value to make sure the scanner read the code correctly. The UCC realized that they would sell out all the possible numbers and not have any more income so they started charging an annual renewal fee for the numbers. In 2002 the UCC lost a class action lawsuit by their customers forcing them to acknowledge ownership of numbers purchased through the 1990’s. I bought a manufacturer’s UPC series in 1996 from the UCC, consequently, I own 100,000 numbers, 90,000 of which I would like to offer to farmers and small food producers wanting to supply grocery stores. GS1 has replaced the UCC and offers UPC numbers for sale with a 20% annual renewal fee. One number is $30 with no renewal fee, however, 10 numbers are $250 with a $50 annual fee and 100 numbers are $750 with a $150 annual fee. You then need to buy the artwork for the bar code symbol and labels. Generally, each retail product requires two UPC numbers, one the bunch or basket and another for the case. Most small farms will need more than 10 numbers but less than 100.

I can offer you several options. If you just want the numbers, I can sell you PNG files of the symbols for $15.00 each, I have programmed my Macintosh to print my product labels and can do so for you. My labels designs are NOP and FSMA compliant and approved by CCOF. I print a 3 1/3″ by 4″ label for my pre-packed bags, cases and basket lids. I also print a 2 5/8″ by 1″ label that folds around a CCOF twist tie for making Flag Ties and for labeling cardboard pint and half pint baskets. I include the retail price on these labels and the necessary traceability information that the grocery store would otherwise have to post on the shelf. With labels like this, the store does not have to do anything to sell my products except scan it at the cash register and collect the money. The case labels are standard shipping labels of 6 per page and the Flag Tie labels are waterproof mailing labels of 30 per page. I can sell you PDF files of your labels for $25.00 each ready to print on your color laser writer. Send me your logo artwork and company information and I can substitute your info for mine. Email me at gregnilsen@me.com for more information and label samples.