UNSPSC 50301709: Lady finger banana

The variety of bananas known as lady finger banana

UNSPSC 50301709 Lady finger banana is a Commodity code that captures state and local government procurement of petite and specialty banana varieties for institutional food service — specifically school nutrition programs, child care facilities, senior services, and correctional institutions. Recent solicitations show school districts and child nutrition programs are the primary buyers, with purchasing patterns driven by USDA meal program requirements (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program) and federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program funding. The code sees steady activity across multiple state and local issuing bodies, predominantly school districts in Georgia, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Oregon, alongside Head Start programs and county corrections facilities.

School districts represent the dominant buyer profile under this code. Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin issued RFB 4162 for petite bananas (150-count cases, 5" to 5.5" length, ripeness stages 3.5–4.5 per Chiquita color guide) with weekly usage of 70–90 cases and an estimated annual contract value of $78,000 for the September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 term, with bids due July 29, 2026. Multiple Georgia school districts — Glynn County Board of Education, Muscogee County School District, Bulloch County Schools, Hancock County Board of Education, Early County Board of Education, and Savannah-Chatham County Public School System — have issued competitive bids or invitations for bid encompassing bananas as line items within broader fresh produce contracts for school year 2026–2027, with response deadlines between April and June 2026 and contract terms running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The City of Edinburg, Texas child care program (RFP 2026-017, due August 4, 2026) procures bananas and other produce for approximately 400 children daily under CACFP, with a local-vendor preference for bidders within 5% of lowest pricing. Head Start of Greater Dallas, Inc. issued IFB 26-GP for frozen and fresh produce, including bananas, with an estimated total procurement value of $969,460.94 across primary, secondary, and tertiary suppliers. Larger school districts including Austin Independent School District, McAllen Independent School District, Meriden Public Schools, and Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida have procured bananas as components of comprehensive fresh produce and a la carte beverage contracts in recent RFPs. The GEC Buying Cooperative, representing 30 Georgia school districts across two geographic areas, issued RFP SN 26-004 for fresh produce and eggs with estimated annual spending of approximately $5.5 million; bananas are a standard line item in cooperative school nutrition procurements. Geographic concentration is heaviest in Georgia (with at least 10 active school district opportunities in recent months) and Texas (Austin, McAllen, Edinburg), with secondary activity in Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Oregon. No set-asides or preference programs are explicitly designated under the code in recent solicitations, though Texas local-vendor preferences and cooperative purchasing vehicles are available in selected jurisdictions.