UNSPSC 50522530: Non GMO ranier cherries

The variety of non GMO cherries known as non GMO ranier 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 50522530 Non-GMO Rainier cherries (Commodity) is a specialty fresh-fruit category that state and local governments procure primarily through school nutrition programs supporting child meals and federal feeding initiatives, though the recent activity under this code shows school districts actually purchasing a much broader array of fresh produce rather than cherries specifically. School districts dominate the issuing-body mix, including independent school districts, county boards of education, and regional purchasing cooperatives serving multi-district consortia. The scope of work reflects institutional food service for National School Lunch Programs, School Breakfast Programs, and USDA-funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs, with vendors required to meet strict specifications including HACCP certification, Buy American compliance, traceability documentation, weekly or twice-weekly delivery to multiple school sites, minimum shelf-life guarantees, and food-safety recall procedures. Pricing is typically evaluated as a component within weighted scoring matrices that also assess vendor qualifications, product quality, delivery reliability, and compliance history, with awards made on a line-item basis to permit multiple vendors supplying different produce categories.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Texas, with significant secondary activity in Florida and Wisconsin. Representative recent opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4162 for petite bananas (70–90 cases weekly, $78,000 estimated annual value, due July 29, 2026), the Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 for fresh produce and eggs through the GEC Buying Cooperative serving 30 districts across two geographic areas ($4.4 million Area One, $1.1 million Area Two, due March 4, 2026), Glynn County Board of Education's IFB 27-02 for fresh produce to 16 schools (approximately 60 line items, sealed bids due April 14, 2026), and Liberty County Board of Education's dual IFBs for produce and food products (bids due April 29, 2026). School districts consistently emphasize domestic sourcing, whole-grain and nutrient-dense options, low-sodium formulations, and products free of artificial additives, with many incorporating local-vendor preferences (produce sourced within 200–400 miles) and diverse-owned business scoring incentives where state or federal policy supports them.