UNSPSC 50301579: Russet apples

The variety of apples known as russet apples

UNSPSC 50301579 Russet apples, a Commodity code, describes a single fresh produce item state and local governments procure for institutional food service—schools, child care programs, senior centers, and correctional facilities. Recent solicitations show russet apples appearing as line items within broader fresh produce bids rather than as standalone purchases; the most detailed recent specification comes from school nutrition programs, where russet varieties compete alongside other apple cultivars (Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Jazz, Ambrosia) and are priced by the case for weekly delivery to multiple school sites. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (elementary through high school nutrition programs), followed by child care networks (Head Start, Boys & Girls Clubs, CACFP providers), senior services divisions, and county correctional facilities. School districts dominate the recent activity, with districts in Georgia, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Ohio, and Oregon all actively procuring fresh produce mixes that include apple varieties. Repeat buyers include large consolidated school nutrition consortia—the GEC Buying Cooperative (30 Georgia school districts across two geographic areas), Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Austin Independent School District, and single large urban districts such as Meriden Public Schools and McAllen ISD—as well as state-level cooperative purchasing vehicles that extend contract availability to multiple jurisdictions.

Most recent opportunities span the continental United States with notable concentration in Georgia (Hancock County Board of Education, Dougherty County Board of Education, Bulloch County, Bryan County, Bartow County, Liberty County, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, Glynn County, and the GEC Buying Cooperative), Texas (City of Edinburg CACFP, McAllen ISD, Austin ISD), and Florida (Hillsborough County Public Schools). A representative recent solicitation is Hancock County Board of Education's IFB for fresh produce (SY27, due June 26, 2026), which specified multiple apple varieties including Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Jazz, and Ambrosia across estimated annual cases, alongside berries, vegetables, and melons; the Bulloch County School District's Farm to School RFP (due May 4, 2026) similarly itemized apples within a 24-line-item local produce specification requiring sourcing within 200 miles of the county. The GEC Buying Cooperative RFP (due March 4, 2026) covered approximately 72 produce line items including multiple apple varieties for 30 Georgia school districts with estimated annual Area One spending of $4.4 million. Pricing typically remains firm for the contract period or 90 days post-award, with escalation clauses tied to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports or Consumer Price Index data; delivery is weekly to school sites or central warehouses between early morning hours (5:00–7:00 a.m.) and mid-afternoon (2:00–3:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, and vendors must maintain 97–98 percent fill rates, HACCP plans, and food safety certifications including traceability and recall procedures.