UNSPSC 50321571: Dried red chief apples

The variety of apples known as red chief apples that have been dried for preservation.

UNSPSC 50321571 Dried red chief apples, a Commodity code, covers fresh and processed apple products that state and local school districts and detention facilities procure for food service operations. The code sees steady activity driven primarily by school nutrition programs serving breakfast and lunch, where apples appear as line items within broader fresh-produce and grocery solicitations. School districts source apples in multiple formats—whole fresh fruit for immediate consumption and as components in blended produce orders—alongside other staples such as berries, vegetables, grains, and proteins. Issuing bodies are predominantly K–12 school districts and county school systems, with occasional procurement from state departments managing institutional food service (corrections facilities, for example). The mix of solicitation types ranges from IFBs for annual nutrition contracts to RFPs for master grocery supply arrangements, often with renewal options spanning up to five additional years.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and the broader Southeast, with notable volume in California. Hancock County Schools (Georgia) issued an IFB in June 2026 for fresh produce spanning multiple apple varieties (Ambrosia, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Jazz) for the 2026–27 school year, with sealed bids due June 26, 2026. The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (Georgia) solicited fresh produce including approximately 21,125 cases of Fuji apples annually under Bid 26-34, with bids due April 23, 2026. Fairfax County Public Schools (Virginia) issued a Master Grocery K-12 term contract (IFB 2000004323) with bids due April 27, 2026, spanning multiple fruit items for delivery to 45 schools. The Douglas County School System (Georgia) procured fresh produce and eggs through the GEC Buying Cooperative serving 30 districts across Georgia with estimated annual produce spending of $4.4 to $1.1 million per area, proposals due March 4, 2026. Buy American provisions are standard across school nutrition solicitations, requiring minimum 51 percent domestic content in processed products. Most contracts specify firm pricing for the contract period with limited midterm adjustments tied to documented manufacturer price increases or inflation indices.