UNSPSC 50402004: Chinese broccoli

The variety of broccoli known as chinese broccoli

UNSPSC 50402004 Chinese broccoli is a Commodity code that names fresh cruciferous vegetables sourced for institutional food service, school nutrition programs, and child care operations across state and local jurisdictions. State and local buyers soliciting under this code procure fresh produce for school lunch and breakfast programs, federal nutrition assistance initiatives (USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, CACFP), and corrections and senior services operations. The work involves direct supply of produce items meeting USDA quality and food safety standards—typically delivered in bulk cases or pre-packaged ready-to-eat portions, with traceability documentation, temperature-controlled logistics, and compliance with Buy American and domestic-sourcing preferences. Issuing bodies include school districts of varying sizes (independent and county systems), Head Start and child care agencies, state corrections departments, and municipal senior services divisions. School nutrition programs represent the dominant buyer category, with repeat solicitations from both large urban districts and smaller rural systems. State corrections departments (primarily Texas TDCJ) solicit bulk produce for institutional kitchen operations; these buyers often procure carrots, white potatoes, and sweet potatoes for canning and food service alongside fresh items.

Recent activity clusters heavily in Georgia and Texas, with secondary activity in Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, and scattered other states. Georgia school districts issue the majority of visible recent solicitations, including Bartow County Schools (RFP 10-2026-019 for local fresh fruits and vegetables, proposal deadline June 22, 2026), Dougherty County Board of Education (sealed bid 016-SNS-2027 for fresh produce, due June 16, 2026), and Douglas County School System (RFP SN 26-004 for fresh produce and eggs through GEC Buying Cooperative, due March 4, 2026). Texas buyers include TDCJ (multiple IFBs for bulk potatoes and carrots in June and March 2026) and large independent school districts such as Northside ISD (RFP 2026-048 for fresh produce, due May 7, 2026), Austin ISD (RFP 26RFP034 for fresh produce and beverages, due March 11, 2026), and McAllen ISD (RFP 2026-1029 for produce, due March 6, 2026). Non-school buyers visible in recent notices include Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida, USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program RFP 26039RFPDST, due March 11, 2026), Head Start of Greater Dallas (IFB 26-GP for groceries including produce, due June 24, 2026), and Madison Metropolitan School District (RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks, due July 29, 2026). Sourcing preferences and contract structures vary: some jurisdictions emphasize local or regional procurement within defined mileage radii (400 miles in Madison, 200 miles in Bulloch County Georgia); others apply cost-plus or fixed-fee models with pricing indexed to USDA terminal market reports; and many weight evaluation criteria heavily toward cost (30–50 points) with secondary consideration for quality, delivery reliability, and vendor capacity. Set-asides and preference programs appear selectively—diverse-owned business preferences appear in school nutrition solicitations in Wisconsin and Texas; no blanket SBE/MBE/WBE set-asides are standard across the code's activity.