UNSPSC 50527001: Non GMO akees

The variety of non GMO fruit known as non GMO akee. 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 50527001 Non GMO akees is a Commodity code. State and local governments buy bananas—particularly petite and specialty cultivars—under this code to supply school nutrition programs serving K-12 and pre-K students. The solicitations show schools procuring fresh bananas in bulk case packs as staple cafeteria produce and emergency snack items for programs including the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Schools source bananas alongside broader fresh-produce categories that span apples, berries, citrus, leafy greens, root vegetables, and specialty items; bananas are frequently among the highest-volume line items (1,500+ cases annually in some districts). Buying is almost entirely through school districts and school systems—elementary through high schools—with nutrition departments managing RFBs, RFPs, and IFBs on annual cycles. Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin), Hancock County Board of Education (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) all posted produce or nutrition solicitations in the recent window; bananas feature prominently in multi-vendor awards where different suppliers win different line items on a lowest-cost basis.

Geographic activity clusters heavily in Georgia (Hancock County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, Savannah-Chatham, Glynn County) and spreads across Texas (McAllen, Austin), Wisconsin (Madison), and cooperative-purchasing channels spanning multiple states. Representative recent opportunities include Madison Metropolitan School District RFB 4162 (petite bananas, bids due July 29, 2026, estimated $78,000 annual value, delivery to Food Production Center Monday–Friday 5:00–7:00 a.m., ripeness stages 3.5–4.5 per Chiquita color guide, 70–90 cases weekly during school sessions) and Douglas County School System RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative (fresh produce and eggs for 30 school districts across Georgia, approximately $4.4 million Area One and $1.1 million Area Two, questions due February 18, 2026, sealed proposals due March 4, 2026). Most school nutrition solicitations are multi-item RFPs or IFBs awarding on line-item bases to lowest responsive bidders; bananas typically command firm pricing for 12-month periods with prospective price redetermination tied to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service or market-index benchmarks, and all deliveries require HACCP plans, food-safety certifications, general liability insurance ($500,000–$2,000,000), and Buy American compliance affirming domestic sourcing.