UNSPSC 50405800: Rutabagas

The type of vegetable known as rutabagas

UNSPSC 50405800 Rutabagas is a Class code that captures state and local procurement of fresh vegetables for institutional food service, school nutrition programs, child care facilities, and specialized federal feeding initiatives. Recent solicitations show government buyers purchasing fresh produce—including rutabagas alongside carrots, potatoes, and other root vegetables—as components of broader fresh-produce contracts serving cafeteria operations, USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs, and facility meal preparation. Issuing bodies span school districts (elementary through high school), state departments of criminal justice, county school systems, city school systems, child nutrition programs, and regional cooperative purchasing vehicles. School nutrition programs dominate the activity, with districts ranging from small rural systems to large urban districts serving 20,000 students or more. State agencies, notably the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, procure vegetables for institutional canning and food service across multiple facilities. The code reflects demand across multiple issuer types—no single buyer dominates—but school districts and state food service operations constitute the primary market.

Recent activity concentrates heavily in Georgia, Texas, and Florida, with secondary activity in Connecticut, Missouri, Utah, and other states. The most recent opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin) issuing an RFB for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks due July 29, 2026, emphasizing local sourcing within 400 miles and organic preference discounts; Head Start of Greater Dallas issuing an IFB for grocery products (frozen foods, produce, meat) with estimated value of $969,460.94, bids due June 24, 2026; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice issuing multiple IFBs for white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots for institutional canning, with deadlines in June 2026; and the Bartow County School System (Georgia) requesting proposals for local fresh fruits and vegetables with bids due June 22, 2026. Dougherty County Board of Education (Georgia), Glynn County Board of Education (Georgia), Bryan County School Nutrition (Georgia), Northside Independent School District (Texas), Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida), and multiple other districts have posted produce solicitations through May 2026. Cooperative purchasing vehicles such as the GEC Buying Cooperative are active, issuing RFPs covering multiple districts simultaneously. Response dates range from early to mid-2026, with contract periods typically running July 2026 through June 2027 or the following fiscal year, reflecting standard school-calendar procurement cycles.