UNSPSC 50425807: Dried kelp

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

UNSPSC 50425807 Dried kelp, a Commodity code, spans dehydrated seaweed products procured by state and local governments primarily for food service and nutrition program use. Recent state and local solicitations under this code show minimal direct procurement activity for dried kelp as a standalone commodity; instead, the code appears in the context of broader grocery and food supply contracts where dried kelp or seaweed-based products may be included as optional line items within larger food baskets. The scope of actual purchasing under the code centers on child nutrition services, school lunch and breakfast programs, institutional food service (corrections, state facilities), and CACFP meal operations, where dried kelp would serve as a specialty or supplemental ingredient rather than a primary staple. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts and state departments of corrections, with school nutrition programs across multiple states driving the bulk of volume. State agencies managing institutional food service (corrections, state office facilities) represent secondary buyers.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Oregon, Missouri, and Virginia. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, on behalf of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, solicited cafeteria food products via IFB 304T26300CF (due May 4, 2026) encompassing 382 line items across proteins, dairy, grains, and staples delivered to five geographic warehouse areas; the City of Edinburg, Texas, issued RFP 2026-017 (due August 4, 2026) for CACFP meal program supply covering five categories of food and nonfood items serving 400 children daily. Fairfax County Public Schools (Virginia) sought Master Grocery K-12 suppliers via IFB 2000004323 (due April 27, 2026) for weekly delivery to 45 schools and distribution kitchens; Rockwood R-VI School District (Missouri) solicited Child Nutrition Services grocery items covering over 900 line items (due April 29, 2026); and Douglas County School System (Georgia) issued RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs serving 30 school districts with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million for Area One. The Oregon Department of Corrections issued two separate ITBs for dried pinto beans (S2910000016233, due March 20, 2026, for 127,500 pounds; S2910000017140, due June 19, 2026, for 42,500 pounds), neither explicitly naming dried kelp but demonstrating institutional bulk procurement patterns where specialty ingredients may appear. Dried kelp does not appear as a primary focus in any recent solicitation reviewed; opportunities are subsumed within master grocery, food service distribution, and staple procurement contracts where line-item specificity remains unavailable in public notice summaries.