UNSPSC 50521583: Non GMO starking apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO starking 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 50521583 Non GMO starking apples, Commodity tier, shows limited alignment between the code's nominal scope and recent state and local procurement activity. The code nominally identifies a specific apple variety, but recent solicitations tagged under this code overwhelmingly pursue fresh produce procurement broadly—including bananas, berries, leafy greens, root vegetables, citrus, and prepared items—rather than non-GMO Starking apples specifically. School nutrition programs and school districts dominate the issuing-body mix, with solicitations posted by Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin), Hancock County Board of Education (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), and Douglas County School System (Georgia). The geographic concentration is heaviest in Georgia, with additional activity in Wisconsin, Texas, and scattered elsewhere. Representative recent opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4162 for petite bananas (due July 29, 2026) and RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks (due July 29, 2026, with local sourcing within 400 miles); Hancock County Board of Education's IFB for over 200 fresh produce line items spanning apples, berries, vegetables, and specialty fruits (bids due June 26, 2026); and Bulloch County School District's RFP for 24 locally grown produce items within 200 miles (proposals due May 4, 2026).

The actual work being solicited consists of fresh produce supply—fruits, vegetables, and prepared produce items in bulk—for school nutrition programs. Solicitations specify detailed requirements for HACCP plans, traceability by farm of origin, Buy American compliance (domestic commodities or products with at least 51 percent domestic agricultural content), food safety certifications, liability insurance ($500,000 to $2 million), weekly or twice-weekly delivery to multiple school sites during early morning hours, and adherence to USDA National School Lunch Program standards. Several solicitations emphasize local sourcing within 200–400 miles and participation in federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants. Pricing structures vary from firm fixed price to cost-plus-fee models; evaluation criteria typically weight cost (30–50 percent), product quality and availability (15–30 percent), vendor qualifications and experience (10–20 percent), and service capability (10–20 percent). The code shows material procurement velocity across school districts—nine of the recent opportunities posted between February and July 2026—but the mismatch between the code's narrow focus on a single apple variety and the broad scope of fresh produce actually being procured suggests either code tagging drift or a data inconsistency. Vendors pursuing this code should interpret the actual demand signal as institutional fresh produce supply to school nutrition programs rather than a specialized Starking apple niche.