UNSPSC 50403900: Gourds

The type of vegetable known as gourds

UNSPSC 50403900 Gourds, a Class code, covers the supply of fresh produce items to state and local food service operations, with recent solicitations focused predominantly on fresh fruits and vegetables for school nutrition programs, institutional feeding (criminal justice), and community-based child nutrition services. State and local governments procure under this code a range of fresh and processed produce—including apples, bananas, carrots, potatoes, leafy greens, berries, and specialty items—typically delivered weekly to multiple school sites, correctional facilities, or senior centers. The mix of issuing bodies reflects institutional food service demand across school districts (elementary through high school), departments of criminal justice, Head Start programs, and city or county human services agencies. School nutrition programs dominate the activity, with procurements ranging from small rural districts serving under 1,000 daily participants to large urban districts like Austin ISD, Northside ISD in San Antonio, and Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, each serving tens of thousands of students across dozens of campuses.

Geographic spread centers on Texas, Georgia, and Florida, with recent activity also evident in Connecticut, Missouri, Utah, and California. Representative recent opportunities include the Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (due July 29, 2026) under the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, emphasizing local sourcing within 400 miles with a 5% diverse-owned business preference; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's multiple IFBs for carrots, white potatoes, and sweet potatoes for institutional canning (due dates in June 2026); Hillsborough County Public Schools' RFP 26039RFPDST for fresh produce delivery to 18 elementary schools under the FFVP (due March 11, 2026, with an estimated annual budget of $600,000); and the Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative, a multi-district cooperative covering 30 school districts across Georgia with estimated annual spending of approximately $5.5 million combined (proposal due March 4, 2026). Solicitation types are predominantly IFB and RFP notices, with response dates clustered in March through July 2026. Buy American compliance, HACCP food safety certification, insurance requirements (typically $500,000 to $2,000,000 general liability), and traceability documentation are standard across procurements. Many school district solicitations include geographic preference for domestic or regional sourcing and encourage participation from small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses without formal set-asides. Contract terms typically run one fiscal year (July–June) with renewal options spanning two to five additional years.