UNSPSC 50406205: Lamb's quarters spinach

The variety of spinach known as lamb's quarters spinach

UNSPSC 50406205 Lamb's quarters spinach, a Commodity code, reflects state and local procurement of fresh leafy greens and specialty vegetables for institutional food service, though recent solicitation activity under this specific code is minimal. The opportunities posted show that state and local governments source produce—including spinach varieties and other fresh vegetables—primarily through broader fresh produce and school nutrition procurement channels rather than through commodity-level specifications. When the code does surface in practice, it typically appears nested within larger multi-item food service RFPs and IFBs issued by school districts, state corrections departments, and child nutrition programs that bundle spinach with dozens of other produce items rather than procuring it as a standalone line item. The issuing bodies reflect the standard institutional food service buyer mix: school nutrition programs dominate the activity (Bartow County Schools, Dougherty County Board of Education, Bryan County Schools, Glynn County Board of Education, and others across Georgia and Texas), followed by corrections and criminal justice agencies (Texas Department of Criminal Justice), Head Start programs, senior services operations, and independent school districts in major metros. A few state-level procurement offices (Georgia and Texas) also post general produce bids that may include spinach or lamb's quarters as option items.

Geographic concentration is heavy in the Southeast, particularly Georgia and Texas, where school district consolidation through cooperative buying groups (such as the GEC Buying Cooperative) and state procurement channels generates sustained volume demand. Representative recent opportunities include the Bartow County School System's fresh produce RFP (posted May 21, 2026, due June 22, 2026) sourcing local produce within 400 miles; the Douglas County School System's GEC Buying Cooperative RFP for fresh produce and eggs across 30 Georgia districts (posted February 4, 2026, due March 4, 2026, with estimated annual value of $4.4 million for one geographic area); and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice bulk vegetable procurements (IFB IW253121 for sweet potatoes and IFB IW253099 for white potatoes, both posted June 2–3, 2026, due June 23, 2026). Most school nutrition RFPs weight produce cost at 30–40 percent of evaluation and emphasize local/regional sourcing preferences (within 200–400 miles), HACCP certification, traceability documentation, and compliance with USDA Buy American requirements. Bidders typically quote line-item unit prices and must accommodate weekly or twice-weekly delivery to multiple school sites; contract terms are most often July 1 through June 30, renewable for 1–4 additional one-year periods.