UNSPSC 50403000: Chinese cabbages

The type of vegetable known as chinese cabbages

UNSPSC 50403000 Chinese cabbages is a Class code that encompasses fresh produce procurement by state and local governments, though recent solicitations under this code reflect a much broader scope of fresh fruits, vegetables, and related food service products rather than Chinese cabbages specifically. State and local buyers are acquiring fresh produce for institutional food service operations—primarily correctional facilities, state-supported living centers, school nutrition programs, mental health centers, senior services, and county parks. The issuing bodies include state departments (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health), county and municipal jurisdictions (Collier County in Florida, City of San Antonio, Dougherty County Board of Education in Georgia, Bryan County Schools in Georgia, Bartow County Schools in Georgia, Early County Schools in Georgia, Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin), and nonprofit food service entities (Head Start of Greater Dallas). Recent solicitations emphasize bi-weekly or weekly fresh produce deliveries meeting USDA quality standards, with items including carrots, potatoes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, apples, bananas, strawberries, broccoli, and other seasonal vegetables. Vendors must meet strict delivery timelines (typically 7 to 14 days), maintain temperature control, comply with food safety regulations, and provide traceability documentation where required.

Activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin. Representative recent opportunities include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's IFB HHS0018082 (October 23, 2026 due date) for consumables and prepared foods for Lufkin State Supported Living Center; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's RFP IW267376 (October 19, 2026) for fresh fruit and vegetable supply to Palestine; the Illinois Department of Corrections' RFQ 27426DOCJOLIEB53849 (September 3, 2026) for fresh produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center under a small-business set-aside; the Collier County Board of County Commissioners' ITN for food services at North Collier Regional Park (March 6, 2025, with a local-vendor preference worth 10 evaluation points); and the Bartow County School System's RFP 10-2026-019 (June 22, 2026) requiring vendors to source local fresh fruits and vegetables within 400 miles. Evaluation criteria typically weight cost heavily (30–40 points), followed by product quality, delivery compliance, food safety certifications, and business-status preferences (minority-owned, woman-owned, small-business, or diverse-owned enterprise status). Most contracts run 12 months with optional renewal periods, and vendors must carry commercial general liability insurance ($500,000 to $1 million per occurrence) and provide worker's compensation coverage.