UNSPSC 50522506: Non GMO black schmidt cherries

The variety of non GMO cherries known as non GMO black schmidt cherries. 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 50522506 Non-GMO black Schmidt cherries, Commodity tier, does not reflect the work state and local governments are actually buying under this code. Recent state and local solicitations tagged to this code span fresh fruit and vegetable procurement broadly—bananas, apples, berries, citrus, produce staples, and eggs—rather than non-GMO black Schmidt cherries specifically. The mismatch between code nomenclature and actual purchasing activity suggests either systematic miscoding in the source data or that the code is being used as a catchall for general produce commodities. School districts, county school boards, and regional purchasing cooperatives dominate the issuing-body mix. The kinds of work being solicited include weekly or twice-weekly delivery of fresh produce to school cafeterias and food service centers under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, with vendors required to maintain HACCP certification, food traceability, 24/7 recall accessibility, cold-chain compliance, and Buy American domestic-sourcing adherence. Contracts typically run July through June annual cycles with renewal options, award on lowest responsive and responsible bid or best-value scoring, and delivery to multiple school sites with early-morning windows (5:00 a.m.–7:00 a.m. or 6:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. depending on district). Insurance minimums cluster at $500,000 to $2,000,000 general liability; vendors must provide current business licenses, E-Verify authorization, debarment certification, and references.

Geographic activity concentrates in Georgia, where recent RFBs and IFBs are posted from Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin), Hancock County Schools and Glynn County Schools (both Georgia), Bulloch County School District and Early County Schools (Georgia), Bartow County School System (Georgia), Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools (Georgia), Liberty County Schools (Georgia), Muscogee County Schools (Georgia), Douglas County Schools cooperative serving 30 districts across two Georgia regions, and school districts in Texas and Florida. Representative recent opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District's Petite Bananas RFB 4162 (due July 29, 2026, $78,000 annual value, weekly delivery 70–90 cases), Hillsborough County Public Schools' Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program RFP 26039RFQDST (due March 11, 2026, $600,000 USDA-grant-funded cost-plus model, delivery to 18 elementary schools), and Douglas County Schools' GEC cooperative RFP SN 26-004 (due March 4, 2026, approximately $5.5 million combined for 30 districts across two areas, cost-plus pricing capped at USDA Atlanta Terminal Wholesale Market). Vendors report geographic preference incentives in multiple solicitations—McAllen ISD weights produce grown within 50 miles; Bartow County applies $0.20 per pound discount on organic produce; Wisconsin cooperative prioritizes local sourcing within 400 miles. Recent activity shows sustained school-nutrition contracting through summer 2026 and into FY27, with most awards anticipated by June or July 2026 for September start dates.