UNSPSC 50411503: Organic french artichokes

The variety of organic artichokes known as organic french artichokes

UNSPSC 50411503 Organic french artichokes is a Commodity code. State and local governments procure fresh produce—including artichokes but predominantly apples, bananas, berries, broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, peppers, tomatoes, and seasonal items—through school nutrition programs, state food services, and institutional child nutrition initiatives. Recent solicitations show school districts dominating the buyer base, with secondary volume from state-level agencies and regional cooperative purchasing vehicles. The work involves sourcing, storing, and delivering fresh produce to multiple school sites or state facilities, often with strict quality, food safety, and Buy American compliance requirements; vendors typically quote unit pricing or cost-plus-fee models, maintain HACCP certification and traceability systems, provide weekly or bi-weekly delivery in refrigerated vehicles, and carry $1 million to $2 million general liability insurance. Districts emphasize domestic sourcing, whole-grain and low-sodium options where applicable, minimum shelf life guarantees (typically 5–14 days from delivery), and compliance with USDA nutrition standards and federal civil rights mandates.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Texas. The Georgia State Department has issued two invitations for bid (IFB #4 2027-2026 and PE55645) for fresh produce and general food supplies with May and June 2026 response dates. School districts in Georgia—including Bulloch County (farm-to-school initiative, May 4, 2026 deadline), Douglas County (via GEC cooperative, March 4, 2026 deadline for 30 districts totaling $5.5 million estimated annual spend), Early County (line-by-line food bid, June 8, 2026 deadline), Glynn County (IFB 27-02, April 14, 2026 deadline), Liberty County (IFB produce, April 29, 2026 deadline), Muscogee County (ITB 26-017, April 27, 2026 deadline), and Savannah-Chatham County (Bid 26-34, April 23, 2026 deadline)—are actively soliciting. Texas procurement is led by Austin ISD (RFP 26RFP034, March 11, 2026 deadline), McAllen ISD (RFP 2026-1029, March 6, 2026 deadline), and Northside ISD in San Antonio (RFP 2026-048, May 7, 2026 deadline). Florida's Hillsborough County Public Schools issued RFP 26039RFPDST for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (March 11, 2026 deadline, $600,000 estimated annual budget). Missouri's Rockwood R-VI School District (Child Nutrition Services Grocery Items, April 29, 2026 deadline) solicited over 900 line items spanning produce and prepared foods. Cooperative purchasing vehicles such as the GEC Buying Cooperative are increasingly used to aggregate demand across multiple school districts and reduce procurement overhead.