Fruit and Vegetable Canning

NAICS 311421 (Fruit and Vegetable Canning) encompasses the manufacturing and processing of canned fruits, vegetables, and related food products for commercial and government distribution. These products include canned green beans, corn, peas, tomatoes, peaches, mixed vegetables, and other shelf-stable agricultural commodities. The category involves transforming fresh produce into preserved food items through canning processes that extend shelf life and maintain nutritional value.

Federal contract awards in this category are predominantly issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service and Agricultural Marketing Service for domestic food assistance programs. Awards typically range from $20,000 to over $15 million, with contract durations spanning one to twelve months. Frequently awarded entities include Lakeside Foods Inc., Pacific Coast Producers, Del Monte Foods Inc., Seneca Foods Corp, and Burnette Foods, Inc. Most awards are firm-fixed-price delivery orders or definitive contracts, often utilizing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) vehicles. Set-aside types vary, with some contracts designated as no set-aside, partial small business, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-asides.

Recent federal contract opportunities focus on procuring canned vegetables, fruits, soups, and juices for domestic food assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program and Emergency Food Assistance Program. Solicitations primarily target deliveries between October 2024 and March 2025, with products to be grown, processed, and prepared exclusively in the United States. Procurement methods involve electronic submissions through the USDA Web-Based Supply Chain Management system, with offers typically due within two to three weeks of posting. Opportunities consistently emphasize small business participation through various set-aside provisions and require vendors to meet strict AMS vendor qualification requirements.