UNSPSC 50401600: Asparagus

The type of vegetable known as asparagus

UNSPSC 50401600 Asparagus is a Class code covering fresh asparagus procurement by state and local institutions, though recent solicitations tagged with this code predominantly solicit mixed fresh produce rather than asparagus specifically. State and local governments procuring under this code are primarily school districts and special nutrition programs that source fresh produce for child nutrition, including breakfast and lunch service, USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program distribution, and Head Start child care operations. Solicitations routinely specify delivery in ready-to-eat or pre-cut form, cold chain compliance, HACCP certification, traceability by farm of origin, and weekly or twice-weekly delivery schedules to multiple sites. Issuing bodies include large independent school districts (Northside ISD San Antonio, Austin ISD, McAllen ISD, Hillsborough County Public Schools Tampa), mid-sized county school systems (Bartow County Georgia, Dougherty County Georgia, Bryan County Georgia, Glynn County Georgia, Liberty County Georgia, Muscogee County Georgia), smaller rural districts (Early County Georgia, Bulloch County Georgia), and specialized nutrition programs operated by cities (San Antonio Parks & Recreation) and Head Start agencies (Head Start of Greater Dallas). The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Georgia state procurement offices issue separate commodity-specific bids for potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes under related codes, indicating institutional food service demand across corrections and state operations.

Activity concentrates in Georgia and Texas, with secondary solicitation activity in Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina. Representative recent opportunities include the Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin) RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks due July 29, 2026, requesting 5,900 servings weekly with sourcing within 400 miles and Wisconsin-vendor preferences; the Bartow County School System (Georgia) RFP 10-2026-019 for local fresh fruits and vegetables due June 22, 2026, requiring 400-mile sourcing and emphasizing seasonal availability; the Northside Independent School District (Texas) RFP 2026-048 for fresh produce due May 7, 2026, covering five-day-per-week delivery to 117 schools with USDA Child Nutrition compliance; and Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) RFP 26039RFQDST for USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program specialty produce due March 11, 2026, with $600,000 estimated annual budget and cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing. School nutrition contracts typically run July-June fiscal years with options for renewal and emphasize domestic sourcing preferences, organic-produce price incentives, and compliance with Buy American provisions. Recent Georgia RFPs from Bartow, Dougherty, Glynn, Liberty, Bryan, and Bulloch counties all closed or are closing in late April through May 2026, indicating a seasonal peak in spring procurement for the 2026-2027 school year. Pricing is predominantly unit-based (per pound, per case, or per serving) with firm pricing requirements for initial contract periods and subsequent price adjustments tied to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service or Consumer Price Index documentation.