UNSPSC 50403904: Calabash gourds

The variety of gourds known as calabash gourds

UNSPSC 50403904 Calabash gourds is a Commodity code that sees minimal recent state and local procurement activity directly aligned with its nominal scope. The recent opportunities block contains no solicitations explicitly for calabash gourds or similar specialty produce items. Instead, the tagged opportunities reflect broad fresh produce and food service procurement across corrections facilities, health care centers, schools, and senior services—solicitations that cover standard vegetables, fruits, and meal components rather than calabash gourds as a line item. The code appears to be applied inconsistently or as a catch-all classification within broader food service buys; the actual work state and local governments are soliciting under related codes involves fresh fruit and vegetable delivery (carrots, potatoes, apples, lettuce, tomatoes, and similar commodities), prepared foods and food service supplies for institutional dining, and produce meeting USDA or school nutrition program standards.

Issuing bodies pursuing fresh produce contracts span Texas departments (Health and Human Services Commission, Department of Criminal Justice), Illinois state agencies (Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health), school districts (Madison Metropolitan, Bartow County, Dougherty County, Early County, Bryan County), county governments (Collier County), cities (San Antonio), and Head Start organizations. Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission appear as repeat buyers posting multiple fresh produce and food service solicitations. Recent representative solicitations include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's IFB HHS0018082 for consumables and food service supplies at Lufkin State Supported Living Center (bids due October 23, 2026), the Illinois Department of Corrections' RFQ for fresh produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center under small-business set-aside (quotes due September 3, 2026), and Bartow County School System's RFP for local fresh fruits and vegetables sourced within 400 miles (proposals due June 22, 2026). Geographic activity concentrates in Texas (state facilities, corrections, school districts) and Georgia (school nutrition programs), with secondary activity in Illinois and Wisconsin. No opportunities in the source explicitly procure calabash gourds as a named commodity.