UNSPSC 50303628: Merlot grapes

The variety of wine grapes known as merlot grapes

UNSPSC 50303628 Merlot grapes, a Commodity code, does not reflect the actual scope of work state and local governments are procuring under this tag. Recent solicitations posted under this code overwhelmingly cover fresh produce supply and delivery for institutional food service — school lunch programs, correctional facilities, mental health centers, senior services, child care programs, and regional parks — rather than the specific varietal grape product the code nominates. Issuing bodies include state departments (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health), county school districts (Dougherty County, Bryan County, Hancock County, Early County in Georgia; DeSoto County in Mississippi; Madison Metropolitan in Wisconsin), county purchasing offices (Collier County, Florida), city school systems (Bridgeport, Connecticut; City of Edinburg, Texas), and independent entities like Head Start of Greater Dallas and Marion Health Care Coalition. The actual buying is produce delivered fresh, in bulk quantities, meeting USDA or state food-service standards, with bi-weekly or weekly delivery schedules, quality and temperature controls, and traceability documentation required.

Geographic activity concentrates heavily in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Mississippi, with scattered activity elsewhere. Representative recent opportunities include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice seeking fresh fruit and vegetables for delivery to the Palestine facility (IFB IW267376, due October 19, 2026) and the Snyder Food Warehouse (IFB IW267420, due October 14, 2026); the Illinois Department of Corrections soliciting produce for Joliet Treatment Center under a one-year small-business-set-aside contract (quote due September 3, 2026); Madison Metropolitan School District requesting petite bananas at $78,000 estimated annual value (RFB 4162, due July 29, 2026); Head Start of Greater Dallas seeking frozen foods, produce, and meat for child care programs totaling $969,460.94 (IFB 26-GP, due June 24, 2026); and Bartow County School System seeking local fresh fruits and vegetables sourced within 400 miles (RFP 10-2026-019, due June 22, 2026). Buy American and domestic-sourcing preferences, prevailing-wage compliance, HACCP planning, insurance minimums (typically $1 million general liability), and local-vendor preferences worth evaluation points or price discounts appear across most solicitations.