UNSPSC 50406211: Space spinach

The variety of spinach known as space spinach

UNSPSC 50406211 Space spinach, a Commodity code, does not reflect the actual scope of state and local procurement activity in the source material. The recent opportunities posted under this code cover fresh produce sourcing for school nutrition programs, child care operations, institutional food service, and senior services — apples, bananas, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, and other conventional produce items — not space-grown spinach or experimental agricultural products. The code's nominal designation is misaligned with what state and local buyers are actually purchasing.

School districts, county boards of education, state departments of criminal justice, and Head Start agencies dominate the recent activity. Repeat buyers include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (which has issued multiple invitations for bulk carrots, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cafeteria food products), Georgia school districts (Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Glynn County, Henry County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, and Savannah-Chatham County), and Texas school districts (Austin ISD, McAllen ISD, Northside ISD, Hillsborough County Public Schools). The activity spans Georgia, Texas, Florida, Missouri, and Connecticut, with Texas and Georgia showing the heaviest concentration of recent solicitations. Representative opportunities include Bartow County School System's request for local fresh fruits and vegetables with delivery to a central warehouse by June 22, 2026 (RFP 10-2026-019); the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's bulk carrot procurement (IFB IW241979-A, 1,200 tons, bids due March 17, 2026); Dougherty County Board of Education's fresh produce bid covering 40 line items with sealed bids due June 16, 2026 (ITB 016-SNS-2027); and Northside Independent School District's fresh produce RFP (RFP 2026-048, five-day-per-week delivery to 117 campus locations, proposals due May 7, 2026). Evaluation commonly weights cost competitiveness, product quality and freshness, delivery reliability, compliance with USDA Buy American requirements and HACCP certification, and vendor experience in institutional food service. Contract terms typically run July 1 through June 30 of the following year with one to four optional renewal periods. Vendors face insurance requirements ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 in general liability coverage and must maintain temperature-controlled delivery equipment, traceability documentation, and food safety certifications. No set-aside designations or restrictions limiting vendor type are evident in the recent notices.