UNSPSC 50304602: Athena melons

The variety of melons known as athena melons

UNSPSC 50304602 Athena melons (Commodity) covers fresh melon procurement for institutional food service, though recent state and local opportunities show that buyers under this code actually source a much broader range of fresh produce — including apples, bananas, leafy greens, root vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, berries, and specialty items — rather than Athena melons specifically. State and local buyers include school districts, state departments of corrections and mental health, county boards of education, senior services divisions, and child care food program operators. The work involves competitive bidding on fresh produce supply and delivery, typically with weekly or bi-weekly delivery schedules to institutional locations, compliance with USDA and CACFP nutrition standards, HACCP plans, temperature and quality controls, and prevailing-wage or Buy American requirements.

Procurement activity concentrates in Georgia (Hancock County, Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Early County school systems), Texas (Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities in Palestine, Snyder, and Huntsville; City of Edinburg CACFP program; San Antonio senior services), Illinois (Department of Corrections Joliet Treatment Center, Department of Mental Health Madden Mental Health Center), and Wisconsin (Madison Metropolitan School District). Recent opportunities include Texas Department of Criminal Justice solicitation IW267376 for fresh fruit and vegetables delivery to Palestine (proposals due October 19, 2026); Collier County, Florida, Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park (proposals due March 6, 2025, with a 10-point local-vendor preference); Illinois Department of Corrections quote request 27426DOCJOLIEB53849 for fresh produce bi-weekly delivery to Joliet Treatment Center with small business set-aside (quotes due September 3, 2026); City of Edinburg RFP 2026-017 for CACFP meal program supplies including fresh vegetables and fruits to 400 children daily (proposals due August 4, 2026, with local-vendor preference under Texas Local Government Code Section 271.9051); and Madison Metropolitan School District RFB 4162 for petite bananas at $78,000 annual estimated value (bids due July 29, 2026). Set-asides and preferences vary — small business set-asides appear in Illinois and Texas DOC procurements; local-vendor and diverse-owned business preferences appear in Florida, Wisconsin, and Texas municipal solicitations; and prevailing-wage and Buy American requirements apply across institutional food service contracts.