UNSPSC 50305429: Merton pride pears

The variety of pears known as merton pride pears

UNSPSC 50305429 Merton pride pears is a Commodity code that tracks produce supply contracts for institutional food service, though recent state and local procurement under this specific code actually encompasses a far broader range of fresh fruits and vegetables rather than the singular pear variety the code name suggests. State and local governments are using this code to buy recurring produce supply and delivery services for correctional facilities, mental health centers, school nutrition programs, senior services, child care food programs, and regional park concessions. Issuing bodies include state departments of corrections and mental health, county boards of education and county commissioners, city departments of human services, school districts ranging from single-county systems to metropolitan districts, and specialized entities such as Head Start organizations and health care coalitions. The solicitations emphasize compliance with federal nutrition standards (USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, CACFP, National School Lunch Program), food safety certifications, HACCP plans, Buy American provisions, and prevailing wage or health-and-safety requirements specific to each jurisdiction.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Florida, and Mississippi. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has posted multiple solicitations for fresh fruit and vegetable supply to food warehouses serving its prison system (IW267420 Snyder Food Warehouse and IW267411 Wynne Food Warehouse, both with October 14, 2026 response deadlines, and IW267376 Palestine facility with October 19, 2026 deadline). Georgia school districts—including Hancock County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Bartow County, and Early County boards of education—issued sealed bid or RFP solicitations for fresh produce during May through June 2026, with contract terms beginning July 1, 2026. Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin) requested bids for petite bananas and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks under RFB 4162 and RFB 4163, respectively (bids due July 29, 2026). The Illinois Department of Corrections sought fresh produce for Joliet Treatment Center (small-business set-aside, quote due September 3, 2026), and the Illinois Department of Mental Health posted a fresh fruits and vegetables contract for Madden Mental Health Center (small-purchase procurement, proposals due August 14, 2026). The City of Edinburg, Texas is procuring CACFP meal program supplies including produce (RFP 2026-017), and Head Start of Greater Dallas is conducting competitive bidding for approximately $969,460.94 in frozen foods, produce, and meat (sealed bids due June 24, 2026). Pricing structures vary from firm fixed-price with no fuel surcharges (most school districts) to cost-plus-fee models (DeSoto County School District). Local-vendor preferences appear in multiple jurisdictions: Collier County (10 evaluation points for Collier or Lee County vendors), City of Edinburg (5% preference for vendors within city limits), Madison Metropolitan (geographic sourcing requirement within 400 miles of Madison and within Wisconsin), and Bartow County (local farms within 400 miles).