UNSPSC 50425801: Dried agar-agar

The variety of sea vegetables known as agar-agar that has been dried for preservation.

UNSPSC 50425801 Dried agar-agar (Commodity) does not appear as the primary focus of state and local procurement activity based on recent solicitations. The code's abstract scope—seaweed-derived gelling agents for laboratory, pharmaceutical, or food-science applications—appears rarely in state and local RFQs and RFPs. One recent exception is the California Department of Food and Agriculture's June 2026 RFQ for 2,500 kilograms of powdered agar compliant with USP and NF standards for fruit fly diet production, but the dominant recent activity under related dried-goods codes involves institutional food procurement—dried beans (kidney, pinto, red, black), cafeteria staples, and CACFP meal-program supplies. State and local bodies soliciting dried-goods items tend to be corrections agencies, agricultural departments, food-service authorities, and child-care programs. The mix of issuing bodies includes state correctional systems (Georgia Correctional Industries, Oregon Department of Corrections, Texas Department of Criminal Justice), state agricultural and food agencies (California Department of Food and Agriculture, Oregon Department of Administration, Texas Comptroller), and municipal food-service operators (City of Edinburg, Illinois IVHQ food program).

Recent opportunities coded under or near this classification show activity across the Southeast, Pacific Northwest, and South-Central regions. Georgia Correctional Industries posted an RFQ in October 2026 for 880-bag increments of kidney beans due October 9, 2026; the Oregon Department of Corrections solicited approximately 42,500 pounds of dried pinto and red beans with a June 2026 deadline and 10% state-of-origin preference; and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued an IFB in May 2026 for cafeteria food products spanning 382 line items with delivery to six distribution points across Texas, extended to May 4, 2026 response deadline. The City of Edinburg's August 2026 RFP for CACFP meal supplies covers five categories including beverages, paper goods, food products, and janitorial items for 400 children daily with 5% local-vendor preference. The California CDFA agar RFQ (June 2026, response due June 10) represents the most direct match to the code's nominal scope but occupies a minor share of observed state and local dried-goods procurement. Geographic concentration is strongest in the Pacific Northwest and Texas, with secondary activity in Georgia and California. Agar as a standalone commodity shows limited recent state and local procurement volume compared to institutional food staples.