UNSPSC 50521569: Non GMO red astrachan apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO red astrachan 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 50521569 Non GMO red astrachan apples is a Commodity code that does not reflect the actual scope of state and local procurement activity in the recent opportunities block. School districts and county education boards across Georgia, Texas, and Florida are actively soliciting fresh produce for school nutrition programs, but the recent opportunities show procurement of bananas, mixed fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and pre-packaged produce items—not specifically non-GMO red astrachan apples. The code appears to be misapplied to broader school nutrition produce procurement, where districts buy comprehensive fresh produce assortments to support National School Lunch Programs, School Breakfast Programs, and USDA-funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs serving elementary through high school students.

School districts and county education boards dominate the issuing-body mix, with recent RFPs and IFBs from Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin), Hancock County Board of Education (Georgia), Bartow County School System (Georgia), Bulloch County School District (Georgia), Liberty County Board of Education (Georgia), Muscogee County School District (Georgia), Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (Georgia), Glynn County Board of Education (Georgia), McAllen Independent School District (Texas), Austin Independent School District (Texas), Douglas County School System (Georgia), and Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida). Geographic activity concentrates heavily in Georgia, with additional activity in Wisconsin, Texas, and Florida. Representative opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4162 for petite bananas due July 29, 2026 (estimated annual value $78,000), and Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs across 30 school districts with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million for Area One and $1.1 million for Area Two. Most solicitations specify Buy American requirements, HACCP plans, food safety certifications, weekly delivery schedules, and pricing indexed to USDA market reports or competitive sealed-bid evaluation on a line-item basis.