NIGP 01921: Berry Crops

NIGP 01921 Berry Crops, an Item code, encompasses the procurement of fresh berries and specialty produce items by state and local school districts to support student nutrition programs, particularly federal initiatives like the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. State and local governments are actively purchasing fresh, pre-packaged berries alongside broader produce categories—including apples, broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, and citrus—through school nutrition programs serving elementary through high school students. Issuing bodies are primarily independent school districts and regional school systems, with some procurement conducted through cooperative purchasing vehicles such as the GEC Buying Cooperative to aggregate demand across multiple districts and geographic areas. The work involves vendor selection for reliable, consistent delivery of produce meeting strict food safety standards, including GAP certification, USDA compliance, and compliance with Buy American provisions applicable to federally funded meal programs.

Recent procurement activity concentrates in Georgia and Florida, with notable volume from the Douglas County School System (serving 30 districts across two geographic areas with estimated annual spending of approximately $4.4 million for Area One and $1.1 million for Area Two), Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa (estimated annual budget of $600,000 for fresh produce under the federally funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program), and Butts County School System. The Douglas County School System issued RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative with a response deadline of March 4, 2026, seeking fresh produce and eggs for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 with awards on a line-item basis allowing multiple vendors. Hillsborough County Public Schools issued RFP 26039RFQDST for fresh fruit and vegetable delivery to 18 elementary schools with a response deadline of March 11, 2026 and estimated award date of August 4, 2026, requiring vendors to maintain GAP certification and deliver specialty produce items in 50-unit cases. Butts County School System issued an IFB for school nutrition program food supplies with a bid submission deadline of May 26, 2026, covering six school locations for the 2026-2027 school year with potential multi-year renewals.