UNSPSC 50405201: Artist okra

The variety of okra known as artist okra

UNSPSC 50405201 Artist okra, a Commodity code, represents fresh produce items procured by state and local governments for institutional food service operations, particularly at correctional facilities, state-supported living centers, schools, mental health facilities, and senior service programs. The code encompasses individual fresh vegetable line items — okra by name, alongside carrots, potatoes, onions, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and other produce — purchased in case quantities for kitchen operations, canteens, and food distribution programs. Issuing bodies span state corrections departments, state health and human services agencies operating residential care facilities, county and city school nutrition programs, county and city parks and recreation departments, and regional health coalitions. Texas agencies, particularly the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Health and Human Services Commission, appear as repeat buyers; Georgia school districts and the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Mental Health also conduct frequent procurement under this code.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, and Illinois. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has posted multiple IFBs for fresh fruit and vegetable supply to prison food warehouses (Wynne, Snyder, and Palestine locations) with October 2026 response dates; the Texas Health and Human Services Commission issues regular IFBs for consumable foods and groceries to state-supported living centers such as Lufkin and Mexia, typically with August–October closing dates and fiscal-year 2027 contract terms running September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. Georgia school districts — Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, and Early County — solicit fresh produce for school nutrition programs with May–June 2026 bid deadlines. The Illinois Department of Corrections requested fresh produce quotes for Joliet Treatment Center (IFB 27426DOCJOLIEB53849, due September 3, 2026), and the Illinois Department of Mental Health's Madden Mental Health Center sought fresh fruits and vegetables under small purchase procurement (due August 14, 2026). Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin bid fresh fruit and vegetable snacks for USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program participation (RFB 4163, due July 29, 2026, with locational sourcing within 400 miles of Madison and Wisconsin preference). Collier County Board of County Commissioners in Florida issued an Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park (ITN 258360, response due March 6, 2025). Contracts typically run one fiscal or school year with optional renewal periods; pricing is firm or escalation-indexed to USDA or Consumer Price Index benchmarks; and delivery is F.O.B. Destination with transportation costs borne by vendors.