Current methods that can be used for the identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) include: biochemical tests, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, and fatty acid analysis. These methods can be costly, time‐consuming, and technically difficult. We are investigating the microbial ecology of vegetable fermentations and are interested in the rapid identification of LAB isolates. We have adapted a PCR‐based ribotyping method for use with LAB. The PCR product (s) produced contains the sequences from the intergenie spacer regions between the rRNA genes. These products can be resolved by standard agarose or acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using this method, we have identified PCR product electrophoresis banding patterns for the primary species of LAB found in vegetable fermentations, including those from the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, and Pediococ