UNSPSC 50304611: Crenshaw melons

The variety of melons known as crenshaw melons

UNSPSC 50304611 Crenshaw melons (Commodity) represents a narrow produce line item within fresh fruit procurement, but recent state and local opportunities tagged under this code actually span the full range of fresh fruits and vegetables, not crenshaw melons specifically. State and local governments procuring fresh produce do so primarily through institutional food service channels—correctional facilities, mental health centers, schools, senior services, child care programs, and regional parks. The mix of issuing bodies reflects this institutional concentration: the Texas Department of Criminal Justice appears multiple times (multiple food warehouse supply contracts), state departments of mental health and corrections (Illinois), school districts (Madison Metropolitan in Wisconsin, Bryan County and Dougherty County in Georgia, Hancock County, Bartow County, Early County in Georgia, DeSoto County in Mississippi, Bridgeport in Connecticut), county boards of education, city human services and parks departments, and specialized nonprofit operators like Head Start of Greater Dallas. These buyers operate under tight nutritional compliance requirements—USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program standards, CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) regulations, National School Lunch Program Buy American provisions—and demand reliable weekly or bi-weekly delivery with quality guarantees, often to multiple sites.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Connecticut, with the heaviest volume in Georgia school districts. Representative recent solicitations include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice seeking fresh fruit and vegetable supply to the Palestine and Snyder food warehouses (RFP IW267376, due October 19, 2026; RFP IW267420, due October 14, 2026), Madison Metropolitan School District bidding for petite bananas at an estimated contract value of $78,000 annually (RFB 4162, July 29, 2026 deadline) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks with geographic and traceability requirements (RFB 4163, July 29, 2026), the Illinois Department of Corrections requesting fresh produce for Joliet Treatment Center on a small-business set-aside basis with bi-weekly deliveries of specified items including onions, peppers, cucumbers, and leafy greens (RFQ 27426DOCJOLIEB53849, due September 3, 2026), and Bryan County Schools in Georgia issuing a sealed bid for fresh produce covering apples, bananas, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, and multiple other items for the 2026-2027 school year (bid 4162, due May 27, 2026). Collier County in Florida issued an Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park with local-vendor preference (10 evaluation points) and a three-year contract term with two one-year renewals (ITN 258360, due March 6, 2025). Buy American, prevailing-wage compliance, HACCP plans, traceability documentation by farm of origin, and local-sourcing preferences (400-mile radius filters, Wisconsin Diversity Program certification incentives) are common requirements across jurisdictions.