UNSPSC 50521581: Non GMO spartan apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO spartan 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 50521581 Non GMO Spartan apples is a Commodity code covering fresh apples for institutional food service and retail settings, but the recent state and local procurement activity under this code does not align closely with the nominal scope. Instead, state and local buyers are soliciting a broad range of fresh produce — including apples alongside bananas, berries, root vegetables, melons, and leafy greens — as part of larger food-service contracts. School districts and county parks departments dominate the issuing-body mix, with school nutrition programs appearing across multiple jurisdictions seeking both individual commodity lines (such as petite bananas and fresh fruit-and-vegetable snacks) and comprehensive fresh-produce agreements spanning hundreds of line items. Regional health coalitions and park concession operators also use the code, though infrequently. The work itself centers on consistent delivery of fresh, food-safety-compliant produce to institutional kitchens and dining facilities, with contracts typically spanning a school fiscal year (July through June) or a multi-month operational period. Vendors must meet rigid quality standards, adhere to traceability and HACCP documentation requirements, and maintain cold-chain logistics to school warehouses and facilities.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Wisconsin, with representative opportunities including Madison Metropolitan School District's requests for petite bananas (bids due July 29, 2026, estimated $78,000 annual value) and fresh fruit-and-vegetable snacks sourced within 400 miles and Wisconsin (bids due July 29, 2026, approximately 5,900 servings weekly); Hancock County Board of Education's fresh-produce IFB for the 2026-27 school year spanning over 200 line items including multiple apple varieties (sealed bids due June 26, 2026, contract July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027); and Bartow County School System's local-sourcing RFP for fresh fruits and vegetables from farms within 400 miles (proposals due June 22, 2026, contract July 20, 2026 through June 30, 2027). Early County Schools and Collier County Parks also posted solicitations for food and produce services. Local-sourcing preferences (commonly 400-mile radius requirements or geographic preference points) and diverse-owned business set-asides (5–10% of evaluation weight or point adjustments) appear in most school district opportunities. Pricing is typically fixed for the contract term, with escalation or de-escalation reviewed quarterly or semi-annually against USDA benchmarks; cost remains the dominant evaluation criterion (40% weight in most school RFPs), followed by vendor qualifications, service capacity, and compliance documentation.