UNSPSC 50403516: Short tom eggplants

The variety of eggplants known as short tom eggplants

UNSPSC 50403516 Short tom eggplants is a Commodity code that names a single produce item, but the recent state and local solicitations tagged with this code overwhelmingly procure fresh fruits and vegetables broadly—not eggplants specifically. The code appears as a placeholder or catch-all category in institutional food service and school nutrition contracts, where state health and human services departments, county school districts, correctional facilities, and senior service agencies source produce for cafeterias, canteens, and meal programs. Issuing bodies include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Mental Health, Madison Metropolitan School District, Dougherty County Board of Education, Bartow County School System, Bryan County Schools, the City of San Antonio, Collier County, and Head Start programs. The solicitation mix spans IFBs, RFPs, RFQs, and sealed bid procurements, with contracts typically running twelve months and including produce delivery on FOB Destination terms, USDA quality compliance, refrigerated transport, and weekly or bi-weekly drop schedules at institutional warehouses and school food service locations.

Geographic activity clusters heavily in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida, with Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Health and Human Services Commission as repeat buyers issuing separate procurements for produce supply to correctional facilities, state supported living centers, and mental health centers. Recent representative solicitations include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's IFB HHS0018082 for consumable foods including prepared items and food service supplies for Lufkin State Supported Living Center (bids due October 23, 2026), the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's IW267420 for fresh fruit and vegetables to Snyder Food Warehouse (due October 14, 2026), the Illinois Department of Corrections' RFQ 27426DOCJOLIEB53849 for fresh produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center with a small business set-aside (due September 3, 2026), Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks requiring Wisconsin sourcing within 400 miles with a 5% diverse-owned business preference (due July 29, 2026), and Bartow County School System's RFP 10-2026-019 for local fresh fruits and vegetables from farms within 400 miles (due June 22, 2026). Produce procurement in this space emphasizes local or regional sourcing where specified, farm traceability, ready-to-eat or cleaned formats, quality certifications, and compliance with child nutrition program or institutional meal standards, with vendor insurance requirements typically including $500,000 to $1 million general liability coverage.