UNSPSC 50521556: Non GMO mutsu apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO mutsu 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 50521556 Non GMO Mutsu apples, a Commodity code, shows limited alignment between its nominal scope and recent state and local procurement activity. The code nominally specifies a single apple variety grown without genetic modification, yet state and local governments soliciting under this code are actually buying comprehensive fresh produce bundles spanning multiple apple varieties, bananas, berries, vegetables, and specialty items to support school nutrition programs. Recent opportunities reveal that school districts treat produce procurement as integrated food-service contracts rather than commodity-specific purchases. Madison Metropolitan School District issued separate RFBs in July 2026 for petite bananas (due July 29, 2026) and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (due July 29, 2026) with estimated annual values of $78,000 and variable weekly servings; Hancock County Board of Education in Georgia solicited over 200 line items of fresh produce under IFB #SN002-2027 (due June 26, 2026) spanning apple varieties, berries, vegetables, and specialty items for delivery to three school locations. Bulloch County School District issued an RFP for 24 produce items including apples, citrus, strawberries, and seasonal greens for its Farm to School program (due May 4, 2026), while Bartow County School System requested local fresh fruits and vegetables sourced within 400 miles of the district (due June 22, 2026). The issuing bodies are predominantly school districts—Madison Metropolitan, Hancock County, Bulloch County, Bartow County, Early County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, Savannah-Chatham County, Glynn County, McAllen Independent, and Austin Independent—supplemented by one state-level procurement from Georgia (bid 26_003 Food Supplies_Etc, due June 22, 2026) and one cooperative buying vehicle administered by Douglas County School System serving 30 districts across two Georgia regions with approximately $5.5 million in estimated annual spending (RFP due March 4, 2026).

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Texas school districts, with secondary activity in Wisconsin and Florida. Georgia hosts the densest cluster: Hancock County (due June 26, 2026), Bulloch County (due May 4, 2026), Bartow County (due June 22, 2026), Liberty County (two IFBs, due April 29, 2026), Muscogee County (ITB due April 27, 2026), Savannah-Chatham County (bid due April 23, 2026), Glynn County (IFB due April 14, 2026), Douglas County cooperative vehicle (RFP due March 4, 2026), and the State of Georgia (due June 22, 2026). Texas contributes McAllen Independent School District (RFP due March 6, 2026) and Austin Independent School District (RFP due March 11, 2026), while Wisconsin and Florida are represented by Madison Metropolitan School District (RFBs due July 29, 2026) and Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa (RFP due March 11, 2026). Most opportunities mandate Buy American provisions requiring domestic commodity sourcing, HACCP plans with 24/7 recall accessibility, traceability documentation by farm of origin, and compliance with USDA food safety standards. School districts evaluate bids on a lowest-responsive-and-responsible-bidder basis with secondary weighting on vendor qualifications, past performance, and service capabilities, and several opportunities explicitly reject third-party logistics providers in favor of direct commercial distributors. The code shows activity but operates at a broader category level than its nominal commodity specification suggests; vendors pursuing contracts under UNSPSC 50521556 should position around integrated school nutrition produce supply rather than single-variety apple sourcing.