UNSPSC 50342005: Frozen chester blackberries

The variety of blackberries known as chester blackberries that have been frozen for preservation.

UNSPSC 50342005 Frozen Chester Blackberries, a Commodity code, describes specialty frozen berries procured by state and local governments primarily for institutional food service, school nutrition programs, and correctional facilities. State and local buyers source frozen blackberries and related berries as components of broader food service contracts spanning produce, proteins, dairy, and supplies; the commodity rarely appears as a standalone line item but instead sits within large multi-item grocery, produce, or consumables solicitations. Recent opportunities show frozen berries requested as individual line items within comprehensive food procurements—for example, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's statewide supplemental food contract for state hospitals and supported living centers, the Oregon Department of Corrections' bulk frozen-berries procurement, and school nutrition programs across multiple districts. Issuing bodies include state health and human services agencies, state correctional facilities, school districts, county boards of education, and specialized nutrition programs such as Head Start and the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The geographic footprint spans Texas (with multiple HHSC facilities), Georgia (school districts including Fulton County, Bulloch County, Savannah-Chatham, Douglas County, Henry County, and Hancock County), Oregon (Department of Corrections), Florida (Hillsborough County Public Schools), Connecticut (Bridgeport Board of Education), Missouri (Rockwood R-VI School District), California (Santa Clara County Correctional Facility), and other jurisdictions.

Recent representative opportunities include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's IFB HHS0016792 for supplemental food and consumable products covering 210 line items including frozen specialty foods for 23 state facilities across Texas, with a deadline of February 23, 2026 and maximum contract value of $4.5 million; the Oregon Department of Corrections' ITB S2910000016590 for one full truckload (40,000 pounds) of unsweetened, individually quick frozen berries (blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, Marion berries) with bids due April 23, 2026 and historical pricing at $0.89 per pound; the Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs across 30 school districts in Georgia with approximately $5.5 million annual spending and proposals due March 4, 2026; and Hillsborough County Public Schools' RFP 26039RFPDST for specialty fruits and vegetables under the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program with an estimated annual budget of $600,000 and proposals due March 11, 2026. All recent school nutrition procurements carry Buy American requirements (minimum 51 percent domestic agricultural content), HACCP plan compliance, food recall procedures, liability insurance requirements ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, and firm fixed pricing with limited midterm adjustments tied to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports or Consumer Price Index increases. Frozen-berry activity appears moderate across the code, with opportunities concentrated in school nutrition, state institutional food service, and correctional facilities rather than distributed across broader municipal or county general purchasing.