UNSPSC 50532916: Dried non GMO zahidi dates

The variety of non GMO dates known as non GMO zahidi dates that have been dried for preservation. 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 50532916 Dried non-GMO Zahidi dates is a Commodity code that reflects minimal state and local procurement activity. The nine recent opportunities tagged under this code do not substantively involve dried zahidi dates or similar specialty dried fruits; instead, they span broad school nutrition and institutional food service contracts encompassing produce, groceries, prepared meals, and related supplies. The City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases (Connecticut) solicited over 1,100 line items of groceries for the Bridgeport Board of Education under IFB BNB052266 (due June 30, 2026); Fairfax County Public Schools (Virginia) sought master grocery K-12 supply under IFB 2000004323 (due April 27, 2026); and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued IFB HHS0017449 for food and consumable products at the El Paso State Supported Living Center (due July 13, 2026). School districts dominate the issuing bodies, with additional opportunities from county systems (Hancock County, Georgia; Bulloch County, Georgia; Douglas County, Georgia; Pascagoula-Gautier, Mississippi), the state of Georgia, and municipal governments (City of Dallas; City of Meriden, Connecticut; Hillsborough County, Florida). These procurement bodies overwhelmingly buy fresh produce, staple grocery items, dairy, meat, prepared meals, and supplies under broad food service contracts, not specialty or imported dried fruits.

Geographic activity concentrates in Georgia, Florida, Connecticut, Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, with no standout repeat solicitation of zahidi dates or similar specialty dried items across the sample. The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (Georgia) procured 72 fresh produce items including apples, berries, and bulk vegetables under Bid 26-34 (due April 23, 2026); the Douglas County School System (Georgia) sought fresh produce and eggs through the GEC Buying Cooperative, estimated at $4.4 million for Area One and $1.1 million for Area Two (due March 4, 2026); and Meriden Public Schools (Connecticut) anticipated approximately $3.1 million for groceries, beverages, and produce (due February 25, 2026). The code shows a fundamental mismatch: procurement offices are tagging institutional food-service contracts with a zahidi-date commodity code, but the actual buying activity centers on commodity-grade fresh produce, frozen goods, and staple groceries tied to school lunch programs and senior meals under federal nutrition compliance. Dried specialty dates do not appear as line items in any of the detailed solicitations. Vendors pursuing this code should expect generic food-service distribution opportunities rather than demand for imported dried fruits.