UNSPSC 50301579: Russet apples

The variety of apples known as russet apples

UNSPSC 50301579 Russet apples, a Commodity code, covers fresh apple supply to state and local institutional food service operations, including correctional facilities, school districts, senior centers, mental health facilities, and regional parks. State and local procurement offices buy russet apples as part of broader fresh produce contracts that bundle multiple fruit and vegetable line items, though recent solicitations show apples appearing alongside bananas, carrots, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and other produce staples rather than as single-commodity procurements. The issuing bodies span state departments of corrections and mental health, county and municipal school districts, county parks departments, city senior services divisions, and specialized food service entities such as Head Start centers and child care food program operators. Texas Department of Criminal Justice has posted multiple fresh fruit and vegetable RFQs since late September 2026 covering institutional food warehouses, signaling repeat procurement activity from state corrections systems, while Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Mental Health have similarly issued small-purchase and RFQ solicitations for produce supply. School nutrition programs represent the densest cluster of buying activity, with at least nine school districts across Georgia, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Texas, Connecticut, and Illinois posting produce bids in recent months.

Geographic concentration appears strongest in Georgia, Texas, and Illinois, driven by school district procurement cycles aligned to fiscal-year transitions (July 1 start dates). Recent representative opportunities include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's fresh fruit and vegetables RFQ for the Palestine facility (solicitation IW267376, due October 19, 2026), the Collier County Board of County Commissioners' Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park (ITN, due March 6, 2025, with local-vendor preference worth 10 points), Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB for petite bananas (RFB 4162, due July 29, 2026, with an estimated contract value of $78,000 for the 2026–2027 school year), Hancock County Board of Education's IFB for fresh produce including multiple apple varieties (due June 26, 2026), and Bryan County Schools' sealed-bid procurement for fresh produce (due May 27, 2026). Buy American provisions appear in school nutrition procurements; a 51% domestic agricultural commodity requirement is standard in National School Lunch Program contracts. School districts frequently impose geographic sourcing limits (Bartow County Schools and Madison Metropolitan School District each require produce from within 400 miles) and apply diverse-business or local-vendor preferences worth 5 to 10 evaluation points. Pricing is typically firm fixed per pound or per case with no fuel surcharges permitted, and contract terms run July 1 through June 30 with optional renewal periods. Insurance requirements generally range from $500,000 to $1 million general liability coverage.