UNSPSC 50403300: Cresses

The type of vegetable known as cresses

UNSPSC 50403300 Cresses is a Class code that, based on recent state and local solicitations, encompasses fresh produce supply—particularly leafy greens and root vegetables—for institutional food service, school nutrition programs, and child care operations. State and local governments buy under this code by soliciting bids and RFPs for ready-to-eat or minimally processed produce items meeting USDA food safety and nutrition standards, delivered on fixed schedules to schools, senior centers, correctional facilities, and head start programs. The issuing bodies span school districts (elementary through high school), state corrections departments, county school systems, city and county senior services, and child nutrition authorities, with school nutrition programs appearing most frequently in recent activity. Recent representative solicitations include Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (due July 29, 2026) with 5,900 weekly servings for elementary students in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, sourced within 400 miles of Madison and subject to a 5% diverse-owned business preference; Head Start of Greater Dallas' IFB 26-GP for frozen and fresh produce meeting Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements (approximately 32,409 cases, due June 24, 2026); and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's competitive bids for carrots, sweet potatoes, and white potatoes for institutional canning (IFB IW253079, IW253121, IW253099, all posted in June 2026).

Geographic activity concentrates in the Southeast, particularly Georgia and Texas, with significant recent solicitations also from Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, Utah, and Arizona. Georgia school districts dominate the recent opportunities—Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Bulloch County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, Savannah-Chatham County, Glynn County, Henry County, and Douglas County all posted produce RFPs or IFBs between late February and late May 2026. Texas procurement is active across the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Northside Independent School District in San Antonio (RFP 2026-048, due May 7, 2026), McAllen Independent School District (RFP 2026-1029, due March 6, 2026), and Austin Independent School District (RFP 26RFP034, due March 11, 2026). School year 2026-2027 contracts dominate the pipeline, running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, typically with options for one to four additional one-year renewals. Evaluation weighting emphasizes price (30–50 points), quality and compliance (15–30 points), and delivery capability (10–20 points), with many districts applying geographic sourcing preferences (typically 200–400 miles) and organic or local-grown discounts. Insurance requirements are consistent—general liability minimums of $500,000 to $2 million per occurrence—and HACCP certification, traceability documentation, and Buy American compliance appear in nearly all solicitations. Contract values range from estimated $600,000 annually (Hillsborough County, Florida FFVP) to $3.1 million (Meriden, Connecticut) and approximately $5.5 million (Douglas County GEC cooperative, two-area procurement), though many school districts do not disclose budget ranges in posted solicitations.