UNSPSC 50403511: Long purple eggplants

The variety of eggplants known as long purple eggplants

UNSPSC 50403511 Long purple eggplants, a Commodity code, captures state and local procurement of fresh produce items for institutional food service — specifically fruits and vegetables supplied to state agencies, school districts, correctional facilities, mental health centers, senior services, and healthcare facilities. Recent solicitations show eggplants and other fresh produce being purchased as part of broader produce contracts rather than in isolation; the code's nominal scope does not align cleanly with the actual buying patterns, which treat fresh vegetables as commodity bundles (produce, frozen items, proteins, supplies) rather than individual cultivars. State and local issuing bodies span Texas state agencies (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice), school districts (Madison Metropolitan School District, Bartow County Schools, Dougherty County Board of Education, Bryan County Schools, Early County Board of Education), state departments of corrections and mental health (Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health), cities and counties (Collier County, City of San Antonio), and specialty procurement entities (Head Start of Greater Dallas). Texas agencies and school districts in Georgia dominate recent activity; institutional buyers — correctional facilities, state supported living centers, mental health centers, and school nutrition programs — represent the primary customer base.

Recent opportunities span Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida, with Texas TDCJ and Texas HHS generating the highest volume of fresh produce solicitations. Representative solicitations include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHS0018082, IFB, October 23, 2026 response date) seeking consumables including prepared foods and supplies for Lufkin State Supported Living Center; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (IW267420, IW267411, proposals due October 14, 2026) requesting fresh fruit and vegetables for Snyder and Wynne food warehouses; the Illinois Department of Corrections (27426DOCJOLIEB53849, RFQ, September 3, 2026 response date) sourcing fresh produce for Joliet Treatment Center under a small business set-aside; Madison Metropolitan School District (RFB 4163, July 29, 2026) procuring ready-to-eat fresh fruit and vegetable snacks sourced within 400 miles and within Wisconsin, with a 5 percent diverse-owned business preference; Bartow County School System (10-2026-019, RFP, June 22, 2026 proposal deadline) seeking local fresh fruits and vegetables within 400 miles; and Dougherty County Board of Education (016-SNS-2027, sealed bid, June 16, 2026) bidding 40 produce line items for school nutrition sites. Collier County (ITN 258360, March 6, 2025 deadline) is negotiating food services at North Collier Regional Park with a 10-point local-vendor preference. Contract terms typically run one fiscal or school year with renewal options; pricing is commonly F.O.B. Destination with vendors bearing transportation. Set-asides and preferences vary — small business designations appear in Texas and Illinois corrections procurements, local-sourcing preferences in school districts, and diverse-owned business recognition in some jurisdictions.