UNSPSC 50405605: Cubanelles peppers

The variety of peppers known as cubanelles peppers

UNSPSC 50405605 Cubanelles peppers, a Commodity code, describes fresh produce supplied to state and local institutions — primarily school districts and corrections departments — for foodservice operations. The code captures produce items that state and local procurement offices integrate into child nutrition programs, senior services, institutional meals, and USDA-reimbursable school breakfast and lunch service. Recent solicitations show school districts dominating this activity, with secondary demand from state corrections departments (Texas Department of Criminal Justice), Head Start child care programs, and city senior services divisions. Work ranges from raw fresh produce deliveries to pre-cut, packaged, and ready-to-eat produce; vendors must typically meet USDA food safety standards including HACCP plans, traceability documentation by farm of origin, food recall procedures, and compliance with Buy American provisions favoring domestic agricultural commodities.

Recent activity clusters heavily in Georgia and Texas, with secondary momentum in Florida, Connecticut, and Missouri. The Georgia school nutrition market dominates, with sealed bids and RFPs issued by Bartow County Schools, Dougherty County Board of Education, Bryan County Schools, Glynn County Board of Education, Liberty County Board of Education, Muscogee County School District, Henry County Schools, Douglas County Schools (via GEC Buying Cooperative), and Savannah-Chatham County Public School System between February and July 2026. Texas activity includes TDCJ bulk vegetable solicitations (carrots, white potatoes, sweet potatoes for canning; Solicitation IW241979-A for 1,200 tons of carrots with 2,400,000 pounds estimated; IFB IW253079 and IW253121 posted June 2026), Northside Independent School District fresh produce RFP (RFP 2026-048, due May 7, 2026), and Austin Independent School District fresh produce and beverage RFP (RFP 26RFP034, due March 11, 2026). School districts emphasize local and regional sourcing within 200–400 miles; prefer organic and heritage varieties; require weekly or twice-weekly delivery to multiple school sites; and structure awards across single or multiple vendors on a line-item basis. Evaluation typically weights cost heavily (30–50 percent), with remaining points distributed among product quality, vendor experience, delivery reliability, and local/disadvantaged-business preferences where applicable. Response deadlines cluster in March through July 2026, with initial contract terms running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, renewable for one to four additional one-year periods.