UNSPSC 50406714: Kabocha squash

The variety of winter squashes and winter pumpkins known as kabocha squash

UNSPSC 50406714 Kabocha squash is a Commodity code that appears in state and local procurement primarily through school nutrition programs and institutional food service operations seeking fresh produce for child nutrition, breakfast and lunch programs, and senior services. The recent solicitation activity shows school districts, state agencies, and child nutrition organizations buying fresh vegetables—including kabocha squash alongside related produce like carrots, sweet potatoes, and mixed fresh produce—as ingredients for meal preparation and student snack programs. Issuing bodies span independent school districts of varying sizes (from small rural districts to large urban systems like Northside ISD in San Antonio and AISD in Austin), county school boards across Georgia, state prison system nutrition operations, Head Start programs, and senior services divisions of municipal governments. School nutrition is the dominant buyer segment, with frequent solicitations for both individual produce items and comprehensive fresh produce supply contracts that bundle kabocha squash with dozens of other vegetable and fruit line items. State agencies—particularly the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Georgia state procurement office—regularly solicit for produce to supply correctional facilities, cafeterias, and institutional food service.

Recent activity concentrates heavily in Texas and Georgia, with secondary activity in Florida, Missouri, and Connecticut. Representative recent solicitations include the Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4163 (posted July 8, 2026; due July 29, 2026) for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks delivered ready-to-eat within 400 miles of Madison under the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program; Head Start of Greater Dallas' IFB 26-GP (posted June 24, 2026) for approximately 32,409 cases of frozen foods, produce, and meat products totaling $969,460.94; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's IFB IW253121 (posted June 23, 2026) for sweet potatoes for canning; Bartow County Schools' RFP 10-2026-019 (posted May 21, 2026; due June 22, 2026) seeking local fresh fruits and vegetables sourced within 400 miles; and Northside ISD's RFP 2026-048 (posted April 14, 2026; due May 7, 2026) for fresh produce delivery to 117 schools across the San Antonio area. Evaluation criteria across these procurements weight cost heavily (typically 30–50 points) alongside product quality, delivery reliability, local or domestic sourcing preferences, and vendor qualifications including insurance, food safety certifications (HACCP, GAP), and traceability documentation. Contract terms typically run July 1 through June 30 with renewal options extending one to five years; pricing remains firm for initial periods with adjustments after that based on USDA Agricultural Marketing Service or Consumer Price Index indices. Set-asides and preferences vary: some districts apply small business or minority-owned vendor preferences; Texas procurements include service-disabled veteran and in-state preferences; Georgia districts often encourage local sourcing within specified radius (200–400 miles). No dominant incumbent or repeat-winner pattern emerges from the recent notices; awards typically go to lowest responsive bidder meeting specifications.