UNSPSC 50407004: Arrow root

The type of vegetable known as arrow root

UNSPSC 50407004 Arrow root, a Commodity code, sits within a broader family of food ingredient procurement that state and local governments use primarily to supply institutional kitchens, school nutrition programs, and corrections facilities. Recent state and local solicitations under and adjacent to this code show that government buyers are procuring fresh produce, prepared food items, and food service supplies—often bundled with staple groceries and kitchen consumables—for state-supported living centers, correctional institutions, school districts, and senior services operations. The actual buying pattern emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions, apples, lettuce, tomatoes, berries) delivered on recurring schedules to multiple facilities; prepared or specialty items (frozen vegetables, french fries, hashbrown patties, chicken wings, pre-cooked entrees); and associated food service disposables (containers, napkins, foil, straws, hairnets). Work is solicited as IFBs, RFPs, RFQs, and small-purchase procurements, typically with firm-fixed pricing, delivery to designated warehouse or facility locations, and compliance with USDA grade standards, food safety regulations, and prevailing state procurement certifications (E-Verify, debarment, suspension).

Activity concentrates heavily in Texas—the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts issue repeated solicitations for food service supplies to state-supported living centers, correctional facilities, and mental health centers. Georgia school districts (Bartow County Schools, Dougherty County Board of Education, Bryan County Schools, Early County Board of Education) and Illinois state agencies (Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health) are active buyers of fresh produce and food supplies. Recent representative opportunities include the Texas HHS Commission's IFB HHS0018082 for consumable foods and food service supplies at Lufkin State Supported Living Center (bids due October 23, 2026), TDCJ's multiple solicitations for fresh fruits and vegetables to regional food warehouses (responses due October 14 and October 19, 2026), and the Illinois Department of Corrections' RFQ for fresh produce delivery to Joliet Treatment Center under a small business set-aside (quotes due September 3, 2026). Madison Metropolitan School District solicited fresh fruit and vegetable snacks sourced within 400 miles of Wisconsin under an RFB with a 5 percent diverse-owned business preference (bids due July 29, 2026). Collier County, Florida issued an ITN for food services at North Collier Regional Park offering a 10-point local-vendor preference (proposals due March 6, 2025). Contract values where disclosed range from historical guidelines of $158,000 to $969,460.94 for multi-vendor, multi-year school or institutional supply.