UNSPSC 50521500: Non GMO apples

The type of non GMO fruit known as non GMO apples. This means that they are produced without the use of methods that genetically modify organisms by means that are not possible under natural conditions. Such methods include cell fusion, microencapsulation and macro-encapsulation, and recombinant DNA technology (including gene deletion, gene doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes when achieved by recombinant DNA technology).

Traditional methods of breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture are considered to be non-GMO.

UNSPSC 50521500 Non GMO apples, Class code, represents school district food-service procurement for fresh produce staples, though the recent opportunities block shows little activity specifically targeting non-GMO apples and instead reflects broader fresh-produce contracting by school nutrition programs across the Southeast. The work being solicited under this code—when inferred from representative school district procurement—covers weekly or seasonal delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to school nutrition departments, often in bulk case quantities with specifications for ripeness, size, color, shelf life, and temperature control. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts and boards of education (elementary through high school systems), with a few county-level school systems conducting cooperative purchasing through shared buying groups such as the GEC Buying Cooperative. Evaluation criteria across these solicitations emphasize cost (typically 30–50 points), product quality and freshness, vendor experience and insurance compliance, Buy American provisions, HACCP and food-safety documentation, and references. Many districts impose local-sourcing preferences (produce grown within 50–400 miles of the district) and offer pricing preferences for organic or domestic products. Set-asides or diversity preferences appear sporadically; some districts (Madison Metropolitan, Bartow County) weight diverse-owned business status at 5 percent, while others impose no explicit set-aside.

Geographic activity concentrates in Georgia, with recent opportunities from Hancock County, Bulloch County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, Savannah-Chatham County, Glynn County, and Douglas County school systems, plus activity in Florida (Hillsborough County), Texas (McAllen and Austin independent school districts), and Wisconsin (Madison Metropolitan). Representative solicitations include Madison Metropolitan School District RFB 4162 for petite bananas (70–90 cases weekly, $78,000 annual value, due July 29, 2026), Madison Metropolitan RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (5,900 weekly servings, localized sourcing within 400 miles, due July 29, 2026), Hancock County Board of Education IFB for fresh produce spanning 200+ line items including multiple apple varieties (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, due June 26, 2026), Douglas County School System RFP through GEC Buying Cooperative for produce and eggs across 30 districts ($4.4 million Area One, $1.1 million Area Two, due March 4, 2026), and Austin Independent School District RFP 26RFP034 for fresh produce and beverages emphasizing Good Food Purchasing Program compliance and local sourcing (due March 11, 2026). Contract terms typically run one school year (July–June) with renewal options for up to three or four additional one-year periods, and payment is Net 30 to Net 40 days from delivery and inspection. Minimum liability insurance of $500,000 to $2,000,000 and HACCP plans with 24/7 recall capability are standard requirements across jurisdictions.