UNSPSC 50302505: Black republic cherries

The variety of cherries known as black republic cherries

UNSPSC 50302505 Black republic cherries is a Commodity code identifying a single produce item, but state and local governments soliciting under this code are actually procuring fresh produce broadly—apples, bananas, berries, vegetables, citrus, and root crops—for institutional food service. The solicitations reflect institutional meal programs: correctional facilities, school nutrition programs, senior care, child care food services, park concessions, and mental health centers. Issuing bodies span Texas Department of Criminal Justice (multiple fresh-produce solicitations), Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Mental Health, school districts (Madison Metropolitan, Hancock County, Bartow County, Bryan County, DeSoto County, Dougherty County, Early County in Georgia), county boards of education, municipalities including San Antonio and Bridgeport, Head Start agencies, and county parks departments. The work is fundamentally supply-chain: vendors respond to line-item produce specifications, bid unit prices or fixed fees plus reimbursable costs, deliver to warehouses or school sites on fixed schedules (typically Monday–Friday, 5:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.), meet USDA quality and freshness standards, maintain cold-chain integrity, and rotate stock by sell-by date. Evaluation commonly weights cost at 30–40%, qualifications and service capability at 15–25%, product quality and compliance at 15–25%, and local or diverse-business status at 5–10%.

Activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Mississippi. Recent representative solicitations include Texas Department of Criminal Justice procurement for fresh fruit and vegetables at the Palestine facility (IW267376, due October 19, 2026) and the Snyder and Wynne food warehouses (IW267420 and IW267411, due October 14, 2026); Illinois Department of Mental Health's Madden Mental Health Center produce contract (27444DHSMENTHB53608, due August 14, 2026); DeSoto County School District fresh produce for 41 school sites (3170035984, due June 22, 2026, cost-plus-fee model with 97% service-level requirement); Madison Metropolitan School District petite bananas (RFB 4162, due July 29, 2026, $78,000 estimated annual value) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks with Wisconsin-sourcing preference (RFB 4163, due July 29, 2026); and Hancock County Board of Education produce over 200 line items (IFB SN002-2027, due June 26, 2026). School districts commonly impose Buy American provisions (51% domestic content), HACCP plans, $500,000 to $1 million liability insurance, and compliance with National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations; some apply geographic or local-business preferences worth 5–10 evaluation points.