UNSPSC 50305443: Ruby red pears

The variety of pears known as ruby red pears

UNSPSC 50305443 Ruby red pears is a Commodity code. State and local governments purchasing under this code are buying fresh produce—specifically ruby red pears and, more broadly, fresh fruits and vegetables—for institutional food service operations including correctional facilities, mental health centers, school nutrition programs, senior services, child care facilities, and regional parks. The buying pattern reflects narrow specialization: most solicitations name specific produce items (petite bananas, strawberries, carrots, lettuce) rather than ruby red pears exclusively, suggesting the code captures fresh-produce supply categories where pears and similar tree fruits appear as line items within broader fresh-fruit-and-vegetable contracts. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (Madison Metropolitan, Hancock County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Early County, Bartow County, DeSoto County school systems in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Mississippi) and state corrections and mental health agencies (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health), with secondary activity from county boards of education, municipal food services (City of San Antonio, City of Bridgeport), and specialized distributors supporting Head Start and child care programs. Buy American provisions and school-nutrition compliance (USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program standards, CACFP requirements, National School Lunch Program rules) are standard across most opportunities.

Recent activity clusters in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. Representative solicitations include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice requesting fresh fruit and vegetables for Palestine (IW267376, due October 19, 2026) and Snyder and Wynne food warehouses (IW267420 and IW267411, both due October 14, 2026); Madison Metropolitan School District bidding on petite bananas (RFB 4162, due July 29, 2026, estimated annual value $78,000) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (RFB 4163, due July 29, 2026, requiring sourcing within 400 miles of Madison and Wisconsin); the Illinois Department of Corrections requesting fresh produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center (27426DOCJOLIEB53849, due September 3, 2026, small business set-aside); and Bryan County School Nutrition Program seeking fresh produce including multiple apple and strawberry cases (due May 27, 2026). School districts typically require weekly or bi-weekly delivery to multiple sites, firm pricing for 12-month terms, HACCP compliance, minimum $1 million liability insurance, and compliance with Buy American or domestic-sourcing preferences; correctional and mental health facilities emphasize cost-per-serving and quarterly or ongoing supply relationships. Cooperative purchasing and local-vendor preferences (such as Collier County's 10-point local preference and Wisconsin's 5% diverse-owned business discount) appear in several school and county awards.