NIGP 94489: Vegetable and Melon Farming

NIGP 94489 Vegetable and Melon Farming, an Item code, encompasses the procurement of fresh produce sourcing and agricultural lease services by state and local governments seeking to supply schools, parks departments, and public facilities with vegetables, fruits, and related farm products. State and local buyers under this code include school districts managing federal nutrition programs, county parks and open space departments leasing agricultural land, and city recreation agencies operating community farming operations. Recent solicitations show school districts procuring fresh produce for USDA-funded student nutrition programs under cost-plus delivery contracts, while parks departments are leasing operational farmland to qualified agricultural operators with multi-year agreements emphasizing sustainability, soil health, and water efficiency. The issuing-body mix spans independent school districts (Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida), county parks and open space divisions (Boulder County Parks & Open Space in Colorado), city recreation departments (City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation), and county airport authorities seeking ancillary commercial development on airport property.

Procurement activity under this code concentrates in Florida and Colorado, with recent opportunities also posted in New Mexico and California. Representative recent opportunities include Hillsborough County Public Schools issuing RFP 26039RFPDST (Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program) with proposals due March 11, 2026, to supply fresh specialty produce to approximately 18 elementary schools participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program under a cost-plus fixed-fee-per-case structure with an estimated annual budget of $600,000; Boulder County Parks & Open Space issuing three agricultural leases in March and April 2026—RFP-27026 for the AHI Agricultural Lease (756 acres, proposals due April 21, 2026, with fixed annual rent of $32,500 starting 2027), RFP-274-26 for the James Construction Agricultural Lease (31 acres, proposals due May 8, 2026, annual rent $2,700), and RFP-27126 for the Wilkie Miller Agricultural Lease (54.5 acres, proposals due April 24, 2026, annual rent $1,100)—all emphasizing organic or regenerative agriculture and sustainability alignment; and the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department issuing RFP-2025-755-PRK-MP (Farming for Alamo Field Open Space) with proposals due April 16, 2026, requiring minimum 3 years of farming experience, regenerative agriculture practices, and 25 percent of acreage dedicated to wildlife habitat production. All recent solicitations are RFPs; none specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises.