UNSPSC 50304656: Sunsweet melons

The variety of melons known as sunsweet melons

UNSPSC 50304656 Sunsweet melons, a Commodity code, describes fresh fruit procurement by state and local government entities—specifically melons and other produce for institutional food service, school meals, senior nutrition programs, and correctional facilities. Recent opportunities show state and local governments purchasing fresh produce in bulk under service contracts that emphasize delivery logistics, food safety compliance, and cost management. The code's name reflects a single produce variety, but recent solicitations reveal that issuing bodies typically procure mixed fresh fruit and vegetable portfolios rather than melons alone. Issuing bodies span school districts, state departments of corrections and mental health, county boards of education, cities, senior services divisions, and health care facilities. State departments of criminal justice and education dominate the recent activity, appearing as repeat procurers across multiple facilities and contract cycles. School districts represent the largest single class of issuer, driven by National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal requirements.

Recent procurement activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida, with scattered opportunities in Mississippi, Connecticut, and Colorado. Representative recent opportunities include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's solicitation for fresh fruit and vegetables for the Palestine facility (RFQ IW267376, due October 19, 2026) and the Snyder and Wynne food warehouses (IFB IW267420 and IW267411, both due October 14, 2026); the Illinois Department of Corrections' quote request for fresh produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center (RFQ 27426DOCJOLIEB53849, due September 3, 2026, with a small business set-aside); Hancock County Board of Education's request for over 200 line items of fresh produce for school year 2026-27 (IFB SN002-2027, due June 26, 2026); and Madison Metropolitan School District's bids for petite bananas (RFB 4162, due July 29, 2026, estimated at $78,000 annually) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (RFB 4163, due July 29, 2026, with a Wisconsin-sourcing requirement and geographic preference applied by the District). Contracts typically run one school or fiscal year with renewal options, require F.O.B. Destination pricing with delivery logistics managed by vendors, mandate HACCP plans and food safety certifications, carry Buy American compliance obligations, and include compliance with prevailing wage requirements in some jurisdictions. Set-asides for small businesses, minority-owned enterprises, and women-owned businesses appear in select opportunities; local-vendor preferences are common in school and county food service contracts.