UNSPSC 50406400: Sweet potatoes

The type of vegetable known as sweet potatoes

UNSPSC 50406400 Sweet potatoes, a Class code, covers the procurement of fresh and processed sweet potatoes by state and local government food service operations, institutional feeding programs, and school nutrition services. The code sees activity across institutional buyers — state health and human services agencies operating supported living centers, state departments of corrections managing inmate food service, school districts supplying cafeteria and breakfast programs, and regional food coalitions serving senior or child nutrition initiatives. Recent solicitations show sweet potatoes appearing as line items within broader fresh produce, frozen vegetable, and institutional food-service bids, often bundled with other root vegetables, frozen specialty items, and kitchen supplies rather than solicited as standalone commodities.

Texas dominates recent activity, with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice conducting multiple fresh-produce and canned-vegetable procurements across regional food warehouses (Snyder, Wynne, Palestine locations) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission issuing recurring food-service bids for state supported living centers in Lufkin and Mexia. Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Mental Health, and Georgia school districts (Bartow County, Bryan County, Dougherty County, Early County) round out the geographic footprint. Representative recent opportunities include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's IFB IW253121 for sweet potatoes for canning (bids due June 23, 2026), the Texas HHS Commission's IFB HHS0018082 for consumable foods at Lufkin State Supported Living Center including prepared vegetables and food service supplies (bids due October 23, 2026), and the Illinois Department of Corrections' RFQ for fresh produce bi-weekly delivery to Joliet Treatment Center with prevailing-wage compliance required (quotes due September 3, 2026). School nutrition programs issue produce bids on annual cycles; the Bartow County Schools RFP 10-2026-019 required sourcing from local farms within 400 miles with weighted scoring on cost, seasonal variety, and product quality (proposals due June 22, 2026). Institutional buyers typically structure procurement as sealed bids or RFPs with firm pricing, F.O.B. Destination delivery terms, quality and food-safety compliance certification, and insurance and debarment documentation required.