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) represents a narrow food ingredient used by school districts and correctional facilities in meal-preparation contexts. State and local governments procure dried star apples almost exclusively as one line item within much larger fresh-produce and processed-foods aggregations—they do not bid dried star apples as standalone contracts. Issuing bodies soliciting under this code are school nutrition departments (Hancock County Board of Education in Georgia, City of Bridgeport Board of Education in Connecticut) and state corrections agencies (Texas Department of Criminal Justice). These jurisdictions bundle dried star apples with hundreds of other produce and food items into consolidated food-service contracts, where they appear as specialty fruit line items among apples, berries, citrus, melons, and other fresh produce delivered to school kitchens or prison food-service facilities.

Recent activity centers on the Southeast and Texas. Hancock County Board of Education (Georgia) posted an IFB on June 10, 2026, due June 26, 2026, for fresh produce spanning over 200 line items including specialty fruits for the 2026–27 school year, with three-location delivery to school facilities. The City of Bridgeport, Connecticut Department of Public Purchases posted an IFB on June 2, 2026, due June 26, 2026, for school-lunch commodities across 115 line items to supply the Board of Education Nutrition Center. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued IFB No. 304T-26-300CF on May 4, 2026 (extended to May 4, 2026) for approximately 382 cafeteria food-product line items across five geographic areas within Texas, covering proteins, dairy, grains, and produce with FOB Destination delivery to six TDCJ warehouse locations. All three solicitations enforce Buy American provisions requiring a minimum of 51 percent domestic content in processed items, bid firm-fixed pricing for the contract term, and compliance with HACCP, USDA, and food-safety documentation. Bidders face sealed-bid or electronic-submission processes with public bid openings and award to lowest responsive and responsible bidders or best value across single or multiple vendors per line item.