UNSPSC 50521503: Non GMO api apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO api 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 50521503 Non-GMO API Apples (Commodity) describes produce supply contracts that state and local governments solicit primarily through school nutrition programs, though the recent opportunities block shows the code is tagged inconsistently with actual procurements. School districts are currently soliciting fresh fruit and vegetable supply under this taxonomy tier, with specifications ranging from individual apple varieties to comprehensive produce portfolios delivered to cafeterias and participating elementary schools in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Recent opportunities tagged to this code include Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB for petite bananas (due July 29, 2026) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks sourced within 400 miles of Madison; Hancock County Board of Education's IFB for over 200 line items of fresh produce spanning multiple apple varieties and other fruits and vegetables; and Bartow County School System's RFP for local fresh fruits and vegetables sourced within 400 miles. The issuing bodies are predominantly school districts and school boards across Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, and Florida, with a few state-level and county-level nutrition procurement offices. Geographic activity concentrates in Georgia (Hancock County, Bulloch County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, Glynn County, Douglas County, Savannah-Chatham), with significant activity in Wisconsin, Texas, and Florida.

School districts procuring under or near this code code require vendors to meet detailed food safety compliance including HACCP plans, traceability documentation, and recall procedures; Buy American provisions mandating domestic agricultural content; competitive pricing often indexed to USDA market reports; weekly or twice-weekly delivery to multiple school sites within narrow time windows (typically 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.); and minimum insurance coverage of $500,000 to $2 million general liability. Recent RFPs and IFBs emphasize local or regional sourcing where feasible (Bartow County and Bulloch County specify produce within 200 to 400 miles), organic or minimally processed products, and diverse-owned business status as evaluation factors. Contract values range from approximately $78,000 annually (Madison Metro petite bananas) to $4.4 million (Douglas County GEC cooperative across 30 districts), with terms typically running July 1 through June 30 and renewable for one to four additional one-year periods. Award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on a line-item basis, often permitting multiple vendor awards for different produce categories based on pricing and quality. The code shows active procurement volume but significant tagging inconsistency—the specific commodity name "Non-GMO API Apples" does not appear in the representative solicitations, which instead cover broader fresh produce categories, indicating potential taxonomy misalignment in how school districts classify their buys.