UNSPSC 50404600: Lettuces

The type of vegetable known as lettuces

UNSPSC 50404600 Lettuces, a Class code, covers fresh lettuce and leafy greens supplied to institutional food service operations, particularly state correctional facilities, health and human services centers, school nutrition programs, and senior service providers. State and local governments procure these items as components of broader food service contracts rather than as standalone commodity purchases; lettuce typically appears within larger fresh produce or cafeteria food bids serving detention facilities, mental health treatment centers, state-supported living centers, school districts, and municipal recreation departments. The issuing bodies span state departments (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health), school districts (Madison Metropolitan School District, Bartow County Schools, Bryan County Schools, Dougherty County Board of Education, Early County Board of Education), county governments (Collier County), and specialized procurement vehicles such as Head Start child care programs and municipal senior services divisions.

Recent solicitations demonstrate consistent demand across Texas and Georgia, with secondary activity in Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Department of Criminal Justice account for the largest concentration of recent postings, with TDCJ seeking fresh fruit and vegetables for prison food warehouses in Snyder, Wynne (Huntsville), and Palestine (IFB IW267420, IW267411, IW267376, due dates October 14 and October 19, 2026). School districts in Georgia and Wisconsin are actively procuring fresh produce for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and school nutrition operations — Bartow County Schools (RFP 10-2026-019), Bryan County Schools (sealed bid, due May 27, 2026), and Madison Metropolitan School District (RFB 4163, due July 29, 2026). The Illinois Department of Corrections at Joliet Treatment Center solicited bi-weekly fresh produce delivery under small-business set-aside (quote 27426DOCJOLIEB53849, due September 3, 2026), while Collier County, Florida, and the City of San Antonio are sourcing fresh produce for recreational facilities and senior center programming. Institutional buyers emphasize USDA compliance, proof of traceability by farm of origin, cleaning and packaging standards, temperature-controlled delivery, and prevailing-wage certification where applicable; local-sourcing preferences (typically within 400 miles) and organic product premiums appear in school district and municipal procurements.