UNSPSC 50407202: Maca

Variety of tubers known as maca

UNSPSC 50407202 Maca is a Commodity code capturing fresh maca root procurement by state and local education agencies, primarily school nutrition programs and institutional food service operations. The recent opportunities under this code show that state and local governments are actively sourcing fresh produce—including maca alongside apples, bananas, carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables—for school lunch and breakfast programs, senior nutrition services, and corrections facility food operations. The typical solicitation covers weekly or scheduled deliveries of fresh produce in bulk quantities to multiple school or institutional sites, with detailed quality specifications, temperature-controlled transport, traceability documentation, and HACCP compliance requirements. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (elementary through high school systems), state corrections departments, Head Start programs, and county board of education nutrition programs across the Southeast and Texas, with school districts representing the largest buyer segment. Winning vendors typically carry $500,000 to $2,000,000 in general liability insurance, maintain current business licenses and food safety certifications, and agree to firm pricing with six-month or annual review windows.

School districts in Georgia, Texas, and Florida account for the most recent maca-related activity. Representative recent solicitations include the Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (response due July 29, 2026) requiring 5,900 servings weekly of ready-to-eat, processed, and labeled produce from farms within 400 miles of Madison with a $0.20 per pound organic preference discount; the Bartow County School System RFP 10-2026-019 for local fresh fruits and vegetables (proposals due June 22, 2026, award expected July 20, 2026) specifying sourcing within 400 miles with seasonal availability and farm-location documentation; and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice bulk white potato and carrot IFBs (bids due June 23, 2026) for institutional canning and food service operations. The Head Start of Greater Dallas IFB 26-GP seeks frozen and fresh produce meeting Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements for approximately 32,409 cases with a contract value estimated at $969,460.94 and a one-year initial term plus four one-year renewals. Market activity runs year-round with heavy clustering in March through June for school-year 2026-2027 contracting; most awards include 60-day evaluation windows and contract start dates of July 1, 2026. Procurement is competitive on price, quality, delivery reliability, and compliance; no set-asides specific to maca have surfaced in recent opportunities, though some districts extend preferences to Texas-grown or locally sourced produce and encourage diverse-vendor participation under state small-business programs.