UNSPSC 50404602: Boston lettuce

The variety of lettuce known as boston lettuce

UNSPSC 50404602 Boston lettuce, a Commodity code, covers fresh lettuce and leafy greens that state and local institutions procure for food service operations—primarily institutional cafeterias, correctional facilities, mental health centers, senior services, and school nutrition programs. Recent opportunities show that buyers are sourcing boston lettuce as part of broader fresh-produce contracts, with emphasis on quality standards, delivery frequency, and compliance with food-safety regulations. Issuing bodies span state health and human services departments, departments of corrections, school districts, county governments, and city senior-services divisions. Texas dominates recent activity, with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and multiple school districts posting opportunities, but activity also appears in Illinois, Georgia, Florida, and Wisconsin. The code sees steady institutional procurement volume driven by recurring meal-service contracts with quarterly or annual rebids.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has posted multiple IFBs for consumable foods and canteen groceries serving state-supported living centers (HHS0018082 for Lufkin, posted October 16, 2026, due October 23; HHS0017799 for Mexia, posted August 4, due August 25), each encompassing dozens of line items including produce and food-service supplies with estimated annual usage in the single-digit to low-double-digit case quantities. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has issued multiple RFPs and IFBs for fresh fruit and vegetables to food warehouses serving correctional institutions (IW267420 for Snyder, IW267411 for Wynne, both posted September 30, 2026, due October 14). School districts are active buyers as well: Madison Metropolitan School District issued RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (posted July 8, due July 29, 2026) requiring Wisconsin-sourced produce within 400 miles; Dougherty County Board of Education in Georgia issued a sealed-bid procurement for fresh produce covering 40 line items (posted May 19, due June 16, 2026); and Bartow County School System in Georgia sought local fresh fruits and vegetables within 400 miles (posted May 21, 2026, deadline June 22). Collier County, Florida issued an Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park (posted October 8, 2026, due March 6, 2025), and the Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Department of Mental Health have issued small-purchase procurements for fresh produce delivery to treatment and correctional facilities (posted August and September 2026). Pricing is typically firm and fixed with delivery F.O.B. Destination including transportation costs; contract terms run fiscal-year cycles with renewal options common. Vendors must carry commercial liability insurance, comply with food-safety and USDA standards, and satisfy debarment, E-Verify, and prevailing-wage certifications where applicable.