UNSPSC 50302005: Chester blackberries

The variety of blackberries known as chester blackberries

UNSPSC 50302005 Chester blackberries is a Commodity code. State and local governments purchasing under this code buy fresh produce — predominantly fresh fruits and vegetables — for institutional food service operations including correctional facilities, mental health centers, senior centers, school districts, child care programs, and regional parks. Recent solicitations show that Chester blackberries and other fresh produce are acquired as components of broader fresh-fruit-and-vegetable supply contracts rather than as standalone line items; the code reflects a specific cultivar within the larger category of fresh produce procurement. Issuing bodies span state departments (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections and Mental Health, Georgia Department of Education), county school districts (Dougherty County, Hancock County, Bartow County, Bryan County, DeSoto County in Georgia and Mississippi; Early County Schools in Georgia), city school districts (Madison Metropolitan in Wisconsin, Bridgeport in Connecticut), independent child-care and senior-services programs (Head Start of Greater Dallas, City of San Antonio Senior Services), and regional health coalitions (Marion Health Care Coalition in Illinois). The work typically involves weekly or bi-weekly delivery of produce meeting USDA standards, HACCP compliance, temperature-controlled logistics, and nutritional or regulatory certification tied to federal meal programs such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, or state institutional food service requirements.

Recent activity concentrates in the South and Midwest. Texas Department of Criminal Justice has posted multiple fresh-produce solicitations (Wynne Food Warehouse due October 14, 2026; Snyder Food Warehouse due October 14, 2026; Palestine facility due October 19, 2026) seeking vegetables and fruit delivery to prison food service operations. Georgia school districts dominate the competitive landscape, with Hancock County (bids due June 26, 2026 for 2026–27 school year), Bartow County (proposals due June 22, 2026), Dougherty County (bids due June 16, 2026), Bryan County (bids due May 27, 2026), and Early County (bids due June 8, 2026) all posting fresh-produce RFPs or IFBs. Illinois Department of Mental Health's Madden Mental Health Center (RFQ due August 14, 2026, small purchase set-aside) and Illinois Department of Corrections at Joliet Treatment Center (small business set-aside, quotes due September 3, 2026) solicited produce with prevailing-wage compliance required. Collier County, Florida (ITN for North Collier Regional Park concessions, due March 6, 2025) and Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin (RFBs for petite bananas and fresh fruit-and-vegetable snacks both due July 29, 2026) represent non-Southern opportunities. Buy American provisions, USDA sourcing compliance, local-vendor preferences (Wisconsin 400-mile sourcing filter, Bartow County local-farm requirement, Collier County 10-point local preference), and diversity certifications (woman-owned, minority-owned, small business) appear consistently in bid terms. Contracts typically run one school or fiscal year with renewal options, F.O.B. Destination pricing with no separate fuel charges, and weekly or twice-weekly refrigerated delivery.