Definitive Contract 123J1426C0293

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a definitive firm fixed-price contract valued at $1.63 million to Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc., a small agricultural cooperative based in Ludington, Michigan, on December 9, 2025. The contract calls for the delivery of applesauce cups (96-count, 4.5-ounce units) for use in domestic food assistance programs, with performance extending through February 28, 2026. The solicitation, posted by the Agricultural Marketing Service Commodity Procurement Program on November 21, 2025, sought canned and frozen fruit products to support federal nutrition assistance initiatives, with all commodities required to be products of the United States per Agricultural Acquisition Regulation requirements. This award includes a partial small business set-aside designation, reflecting the contract's reserved portion for qualified small business concerns.

Cherry Central Cooperative has an established track record as a preferred vendor for USDA fruit commodity procurement, specializing in processing and marketing canned, frozen, dried, and bottled fruit products across multiple contract vehicles. The company's capability to fulfill large-scale government orders is demonstrated through its previous indefinite delivery contracts with ceiling values ranging from $2.7 million to $4.7 million. Products are delivered on an FOB destination basis through the USDA's Web Based Supply Chain Management system, supporting critical federal food assistance programs including the National School Lunch Program and other domestic nutrition initiatives across the continental United States.