UNSPSC 50327036: Dried star apples

Carambola or starfruits are ovate to ellipsoid, 2-1/2 to 5 inches (6 to 13 cm) in length, with 5 (rarely 4 or 6) prominent longitudinal ribs. Slices cut in cross-section are star shaped. The skin is thin, light to dark yellow and smooth with a waxy cuticle. The flesh is light yellow to yellow, translucent, crisp and very juicy, without fiber. The fruit has a more or less oxalic acid odor and the flavor ranges from very sour to mildly sweet. The so-called sweet types rarely have more than 4% sugar. There may be up to 12 flat, thin brown seeds 1/4 - 1/2 inch long or none at all.

It has been dried for preservation.

UNSPSC 50327036 Dried star apples (Commodity) does not correspond to meaningful recent activity in state and local procurement. The sole recent solicitation tagged with this code—Santa Clara County's January 2026 dried fruits and nuts procurement for its correctional facility—specifies raisins, cranberries, tropical fruit mix, walnuts, and pecans but makes no mention of dried star apples. The code's nominal commodity scope appears misaligned with the category of work state and local buyers are actually sourcing under it.

The broader dried fruit and nut procurement landscape shows activity primarily among school nutrition programs and correctional facilities, with issuing bodies concentrated in Georgia, California, Texas, Connecticut, Virginia, and Missouri. Representative recent solicitations include Hancock County Schools' June 2026 fresh produce IFB covering over 200 line items including apple varieties and specialty fruits (response due June 26, 2026); the City of Bridgeport's June 2026 commodities bid for school nutrition (due June 26, 2026); and Santa Clara County's February 2026 ITB for dried fruits and nuts to supply Elmwood Correctional Facility (due February 5, 2026). Larger, multi-district cooperative procurements such as Douglas County School System's RFP for produce and eggs serving 30 Georgia districts (due March 4, 2026) indicate substantial annual volumes but typically encompass fresh produce rather than dried specialty fruits. The absence of dedicated dried star apple solicitations suggests this specific commodity either commands minimal volume in school nutrition and detention food service budgets or is bundled under broader dried fruit categories where branded specs do not call it out by name.