UNSPSC 50401600: Asparagus

The type of vegetable known as asparagus

UNSPSC 50401600 Asparagus is a Class code that represents fresh produce procurement by state and local governments, though recent opportunities show that purchasing activity under this code spans a much broader range of fresh fruits and vegetables — including asparagus, carrots, potatoes, produce for school nutrition programs, and institutional food service. The bulk of solicitation activity reflects institutional demand: state supported living centers, correctional facilities, school districts, mental health centers, senior services programs, and regional park concessions all source fresh produce regularly under competitive procurement. These buyers typically solicit frozen and fresh items together, pair produce with processed foods and food service supplies, and emphasize delivery compliance, food safety certification, USDA grading standards, and pest-free product condition. Issuing bodies span state health and human services departments (Texas, Illinois), state corrections systems (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections), independent school districts (Madison Metropolitan, Bryan County, Dougherty County, Bartow County, Early County), county health and parks systems (Collier County), and cooperative procurement vehicles (Marion Health Care Coalition, Head Start of Greater Dallas). Many opportunities require prevailing-wage compliance, E-Verify enrollment, general liability insurance ($500,000 to $1 million coverage), and compliance with federal food-safety regulations including HACCP, USDA grading, and food traceability protocols.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas and Georgia, with secondary presence in Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin. Over the past four months, Texas has issued the most frequent solicitations: the Texas Health and Human Services Commission posted multiple IFBs for consumable foods and groceries at state supported living centers (Lufkin, Mexia) in August 2026 with response dates in August and September; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued at least five RFPs for fresh produce delivery to food warehouses serving multiple facilities (Snyder, Wynne, Palestine) with deadlines from October 14 through October 23, 2026, and separate bids for bulk white potatoes and sweet potatoes for canning in June 2026. Georgia school districts (Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County) posted sealed bid solicitations for fresh produce to supply school nutrition programs during the 2026-2027 school year in May 2026, with response deadlines between May 27 and June 16. Illinois issued RFQs from the Department of Mental Health (Madden Mental Health Center) and Department of Corrections (Joliet Treatment Center) in August and September 2026 for fresh-produce supply with small-business set-asides. The Wisconsin-based Madison Metropolitan School District issued an RFB in July 2026 requiring produce sourced within 400 miles of Madison and within Wisconsin, with a 5% preference for diverse-owned vendors; Collier County, Florida posted an ITN for food services at North Collier Regional Park in October 2026 with a 10-point local-vendor preference. Most institutional solicitations structure pricing on F.O.B. Destination terms, require firm, fixed unit pricing for 30 to 240 days, specify bi-weekly to weekly delivery schedules, and expect product replacement at vendor expense for items failing to meet specification.