UNSPSC 50302004: Cherokee blackberries

The variety of blackberries known as cherokee blackberries

UNSPSC 50302004 Cherokee blackberries, a Commodity code, covers fresh fruit procurement for institutional food service, particularly school nutrition programs, correctional facilities, mental health and senior centers, and child care operations. State and local governments soliciting under this code are predominantly school districts across the Southeast and Texas, supplemented by state departments of corrections and mental health, county boards of education, municipal senior services divisions, and specialized food program operators. Rather than purchasing Cherokee blackberries specifically, most recent opportunities name broad fresh produce categories—apples, bananas, berries, leafy greens, root vegetables, citrus, and tomatoes—delivered fresh and meeting USDA and CACFP standards. Institutional buyers require bi-weekly to weekly deliveries to central warehouses or individual sites, adherence to food safety protocols including HACCP plans, and compliance with Buy American provisions mandating domestic sourcing where applicable. Pricing is typically firm for the contract period, with F.O.B. Destination delivery and no separate fuel surcharges; many districts award to single or multiple vendors and reserve the right to reject orders not meeting fill-rate thresholds or quality standards.

The code shows concentrated recent activity across Georgia school districts, Texas state corrections and child care facilities, Illinois institutional food service, and Wisconsin school districts. Georgia issues represent the largest cluster—Hancock County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Bartow County, and Early County school boards all posted produce RFBs or RFPs in May and June 2026 with response deadlines extending through late June. Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued four fresh fruit and vegetable solicitations across three food warehouses (Palestine, Snyder, Wynne) in September and October 2026, with response dates of October 14 and October 19. Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin) posted RFBs for petite bananas and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks in July 2026, emphasizing local sourcing within 400 miles and Wisconsin diversity program preferences. Illinois Department of Corrections (Joliet Treatment Center) and Illinois Department of Mental Health (Madden Mental Health Center) each posted small-purchase fresh produce solicitations in August 2026 with prevailing wage and certification requirements. School districts and correctional institutions dominate the issuing-body mix, with contract values ranging from estimated annual spend of $78,000 (Madison petite bananas) to $969,460.94 (Head Start of Greater Dallas). Award timelines typically run 60 days post-bid opening; contracts run twelve months with optional multi-year renewal terms. Evaluation emphasizes cost (30–40% weight), product quality and compliance with nutrition standards, local-vendor or diverse-business status preferences where applicable, delivery and service capability, and references or past performance with the jurisdiction.