UNSPSC 50304649: Sharlyn melons

The variety of melons known as sharlyn melons

UNSPSC 50304649 Sharlyn melons (Commodity) frames a narrow product line within the broader fresh-produce purchasing activity of state and local governments, though recent solicitations tag this code inconsistently and the actual opportunities span far wider fruit and vegetable supply scopes. State and local agencies buying under this nominal code are primarily correctional facilities, school districts, mental health centers, senior services operations, and child nutrition programs. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has posted multiple fresh-produce solicitations (IW267376, IW267420, IW267411) in the past month, and the Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Department of Mental Health have issued comparable RFQs and small-purchase procurements for fresh fruit and vegetable delivery to treatment and custody facilities. School districts—Madison Metropolitan, DeSoto County, Hancock County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Early County, and Bartow County—are also active buyers, typically issuing IFBs or RFBs for produce spanning dozens of line items. Beyond institutions, the City of San Antonio, Collier County, the City of Bridgeport, Head Start of Greater Dallas, and the City of Edinburg are soliciting food and produce services. The work being solicited includes weekly or bi-weekly fresh-produce delivery to cafeteria and food-service operations, often with USDA compliance and food-safety certification requirements, minimum 97–98 percent fill rates, F.O.B. Destination pricing, and temperature-controlled transport.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas and Georgia, with secondary clusters in Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Connecticut. Representative recent opportunities include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's solicitation IW267376 (fresh fruit and vegetables for Palestine facility, due October 19, 2026, RFQ notice); the Illinois Department of Corrections' RFQ 27426DOCJOLIEB53849 (bi-weekly fresh-produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center, small-business set-aside, due September 3, 2026); Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4162 (petite bananas, 70–90 cases weekly, estimated annual value $78,000, due July 29, 2026); and DeSoto County School District's IFB 3170035984 (full and broken cartons of fresh fruits and vegetables across 41 schools, cost-plus-fee model, due June 22, 2026). Collier County issued an Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park with a local-vendor preference (10 points) and a three-year term with two one-year renewal options. Most school-district solicitations require Buy American compliance (51 percent domestic agricultural content), HACCP plans, E-Verify authorization, and liability insurance; several offer local-sourcing preferences (within 400 miles in Wisconsin and Georgia cases) or diverse-business evaluation points.