UNSPSC 50304105: Eureka lemons

The variety of lemons known as eureka lemons

UNSPSC 50304105 Eureka lemons is a Commodity code that encompasses the procurement of fresh citrus fruit for institutional food service programs, including school nutrition, child care meal programs, senior services, and correctional facilities. Recent state and local solicitations under this code show minimal direct procurement of lemons specifically; instead, issuing bodies are buying fresh produce broadly — including citrus varieties — as components of comprehensive grocery and produce supply contracts for meal programs. The code's nominal scope differs markedly from actual recent buying activity: while 50304105 names a single citrus variety, jurisdictions are soliciting produce in mixed bundles under broader commodity codes or multi-item RFPs and IFBs that span dozens of fruit and vegetable line items. School districts, counties, cities, and child care agencies dominate the recent issuing-body mix, with Georgia school districts appearing most frequently — including Bryan County Schools, Bulloch County Schools, Dougherty County Schools, Glynn County Schools, Henry County Schools, Liberty County Schools, and the GEC Buying Cooperative (a 30-district consortium). Secondary activity appears in Texas (McAllen ISD, Austin ISD, Edinburg), Florida (Hillsborough County Public Schools), Connecticut (Meriden Public Schools), and isolated opportunities in Mississippi, Oregon, and California. The recent solicitation identifying fresh citrus most directly is the GEC Buying Cooperative's RFP for fresh produce and eggs (SN 26-004, due March 4, 2026), a multi-area cooperative contract spanning 30 Georgia districts with estimated annual spending of approximately $5.5 million across both areas; citrus fruits (oranges and other varieties) are line items within that broader procurement. The Bartow County School System RFP 10-2026-019 (due June 22, 2026) for local fresh fruits and vegetables specifies citrus varieties (Kisses, Kishus, Satsumas, tangerines) sourced within 400 miles of the school system. Glynn County Board of Education IFB 27-02 (due April 14, 2026) for fresh produce lists citrus but as one of approximately 60 produce line items. The concentration of recent activity is heaviest in Georgia school nutrition procurement, with secondary clusters in Texas and scattered activity elsewhere in the South and mid-Atlantic. Given that recent opportunities tag this code but actually solicit mixed produce bundles rather than lemons as a standalone line item, pursuit viability depends on vendor capability to supply as part of multi-item institutional produce contracts rather than single-commodity sales; standalone lemon procurement at the state and local level appears limited in the current market.

A pre-bid or industry conference is not identified in recent opportunities under this code. School districts dominate issuing bodies, typically evaluating proposals on cost (30–50%), vendor qualifications and experience (15–25%), product quality and delivery reliability (15–25%), and compliance certifications including Buy American provisions, HACCP plans, food safety documentation, and insurance requirements (general liability minimum $500,000 to $2 million aggregate; workers' compensation as required by state statute). Delivery is universally required within tight windows (typically 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday–Friday) to multiple school sites with temperature control, weekly frequency, and 24-hour replacement of defective goods. No set-aside preferences specific to UNSPSC 50304105 are identified; however, several solicitations encourage small business, minority-owned, and women-owned participation under federal funding set-asides (federal USDA programs require Good Food Purchasing Program alignment and affirmative contracting). Texas solicitations reference HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) status and Texas principal-place-of-business preference. Payment terms run Net 30 to Net 45 days. Contract terms are typically one year with optional renewals for up to four additional years. Buy American domestic-sourcing requirements are nearly universal across federal school lunch and CACFP funding, with compliance documentation required at bid submission or award. Given the minimal standalone activity for lemons and the bundled procurement reality, firms should expect to compete as part of multi-item fresh-produce vendor panels rather than as specialty citrus suppliers; differentiation on cost, service reliability, food safety credentials, and local/regional sourcing capability will determine pursuit viability in a market dominated by institutional consolidation.