UNSPSC 50301537: Greening apples

The variety of apples known as greening apples

UNSPSC 50301537 Greening apples is a Commodity code that describes fresh produce — specifically apples and other fresh fruits and vegetables — supplied to institutional food service operations including correctional facilities, mental health centers, school districts, senior services, and child care programs. State and local buyers under this code procure fresh produce for cafeteria and meal programs serving confined or congregate populations, with delivery and quality standards tied to nutrition compliance, food safety, and USDA or state agricultural requirements. Issuing bodies span state departments (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health), county and municipal school districts (Madison Metropolitan School District, Hancock County Board of Education, Bryan County Schools, DeSoto County School District, Dougherty County Board of Education, Early County Board of Education), and special-purpose districts (Collier County Parks and Recreation, Marion Health Care Coalition, Head Start of Greater Dallas, City of San Antonio Senior Services). The mix reflects heavy school nutrition procurement, with state correctional and mental health facilities as secondary buyers and county/municipal food service operations as tertiary segments. Produce specifications emphasize case quantities, pack sizes, ripeness stages, temperature maintenance, freshness guarantees, delivery frequency (often twice weekly or on-demand), and compliance with HACCP, USDA Buy American, and CACFP or National School Lunch Program standards; vendors typically absorb transportation and handling costs under F.O.B. Destination terms and maintain 95–98 percent fill rates with same-day or 24-hour substitute provisions.

Recent procurement activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, and Illinois, with secondary activity in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Mississippi, and Florida. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a standout repeat buyer, issuing three separate produce solicitations (Snyder Food Warehouse, Wynne Food Warehouse, and Palestine facility) in September and October 2026, all due within weeks of posting. Representative recent opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District requesting petite bananas (RFB 4162, bids due July 29, 2026, estimated annual value $78,000 for 70–90 cases weekly); Hancock County Board of Education soliciting fresh produce across 200+ line items (IFB SN002-2027, bids due June 26, 2026, contract July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027); DeSoto County School District requesting produce distribution for 41 sites on cost-plus-fee basis (bids due June 22, 2026); and the Illinois Department of Corrections at Joliet Treatment Center seeking bi-weekly fresh produce delivery under a small-business set-aside (quotes due September 3, 2026). Many school districts apply local-vendor preferences (10–15 evaluation points or 5% price discounts) and geographic sourcing filters (within 400 miles of the district); Buy American requirements mandate 51 percent domestic agricultural commodity content; and contract terms typically run one fiscal year (July–June) with one to four renewal options. Pricing is firm for the contract term or subject to escalation tied to USDA or Labor Department indices; payment terms are Net 30–45 days; and insurance requirements range from $500,000 to $1 million general liability depending on contract value.