UNSPSC 50535100: Dried non GMO papayas

The type of succulent yellow fruit of a large plant (carica papaya) of the family caricaceae that is considered a tree, though its palmlike trunk, up to 8 m (26 feet) tall, is not as woody as the designation generally implies. 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 50535100 Dried non-GMO papayas is a Class code that captures fresh and processed produce items state and local governments procure for school nutrition, senior meal programs, and institutional food service operations. The recent solicitations under this code show that state and local buyers are purchasing fresh produce—including papayas, apples, berries, root vegetables, citrus, and specialty items—alongside broader grocery and food-service contracts that span breakfast items, frozen products, dairy, and prepared meals. Issuing bodies include school districts (Hancock County Board of Education, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Bridgeport Board of Education), county governments (Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in Florida), state health and human services agencies (Texas Health and Human Services Commission), and municipal procurement offices. School districts and state-supported living centers are the most active buyers under this code, driven by mandates to source National School Lunch Program-compliant products and comply with Buy American provisions requiring minimum 51 percent domestic agricultural content. All suppliers must meet rigorous food-safety, nutritional, and labeling standards, including HACCP plans, allergen controls (no nuts or nut oils), and Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act compliance.

Geographic activity spans Texas, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi, with school districts in the Southeast showing particular recent activity. Representative opportunities include Hancock County Board of Education's IFB for fresh produce including papayas for the 2026–27 school year (due June 26, 2026), Bridgeport Board of Education's grocery items contract spanning over 1,100 line items for July 2026–June 2027 (due June 30, 2026, through OpenGov e-Procurement), Texas Health and Human Services Commission's IFB for food and consumable products for the El Paso State Supported Living Center with a prior-period value of $1.5 million and contract term September 2026–August 2027 (due July 13, 2026), and Hillsborough County's ITB for senior meal preparation and delivery services valued at $17.8 million over three years (due June 25, 2026). Pricing is universally firm fixed with no fuel or freight surcharges permitted; payment terms typically run Net 30 to Net 45 days. Vendors must maintain commercial general liability and products liability insurance, comply with E-Verify and debarment verification, and submit blind samples for testing at their expense before award.