UNSPSC 50301583: Starking apples

The variety of apples known as starking apples

UNSPSC 50301583 Starking apples, a Commodity code, spans bulk fresh produce procurement by state and local institutional food service operators — prisons, schools, mental health facilities, senior centers, and child-care programs. State and local buyers under this code solicit apples and broader fresh produce through standing food-service contracts, typically bundled with other fruits and vegetables, rather than as single-commodity line items. The issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (Madison Metropolitan, Bryan County, Hancock County, DeSoto County, Early County, Dougherty County, Bartow County in Georgia and Wisconsin), state departments of correction and mental health (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Mental Health), and municipal or county departments managing child nutrition, senior services, and institutional meal operations. These jurisdictions use RFP, IFB, and ITN vehicles, with pre-bid conferences, Q&A cycles, and sealed-bid openings as standard practice. Scope of work includes fresh apples in multiple varieties (Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Ambrosia, Honeycrisp, Jazz) delivered in case quantities, typically 25–200+ cases per contract annually, to central warehouses or individual school sites; apples are consistently specified alongside bananas, carrots, lettuce, berries, onions, tomatoes, and other produce as part of multi-line-item meal-service contracts. Buy American provisions mandate domestic sourcing or 51 percent domestic content in processed produce. Evaluation criteria typically weight cost at 30–40 percent, vendor qualifications and experience at 15–25 percent, compliance with food safety and HACCP standards at 15–20 percent, and service delivery capability at 10–20 percent. Contracts run calendar or fiscal year (July–June predominates) with optional one- to four-year renewal terms. Insurance requirements span $500,000 to $1 million general liability and workers' compensation.

Geographic activity concentrates in the Southeast and South (Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut) with heaviest posting frequency in May through October 2026. Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued three distinct fresh produce RFPs for food warehouse supply to Palestine, Snyder, and Wynne facilities (due October 14–19, 2026). Madison Metropolitan School District issued separate RFBs for petite bananas ($78,000 annual value, 70–90 cases weekly) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (5,900 weekly servings, Wisconsin-sourced, due July 29, 2026). Illinois Department of Mental Health at Madden Mental Health Center solicited fresh fruits and vegetables with approximately 39 line items on a small purchase vehicle (due August 14, 2026). Collier County Board of County Commissioners, Florida, issued an Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park with a local-vendor preference worth 10 evaluation points and a three-year initial term (due March 6, 2025 — note: this deadline appears to be a data error and predates the post date). Head Start of Greater Dallas estimated fresh produce procurement at $969,460.94 total value across five years with multiple supplier strategy (sealed bids due June 24, 2026). School districts across Georgia (Bartow, Hancock, Dougherty, Early, Bryan counties) conducted June–July 2026 fresh produce bids with contract terms effective July 1, 2026, emphasizing local or regional sourcing, seasonal variety, and USDA compliance. The code shows consistent activity at state correctional and mental health facilities paired with school district and municipal child-care procurement, with contract volumes ranging from $78,000 annually to multi-year five-figure or six-figure commitments.