UNSPSC 50541520: Frozen non GMO earligold apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO earligold apples that have been frozen 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 50541520 Frozen non-GMO Earligold apples is a Commodity code under which state and local governments—primarily school districts and county boards of education—procure frozen and fresh produce to support child nutrition and school meal programs. Recent state and local solicitations show that this code captures procurement of fresh apples across multiple varieties (Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jazz, and Ambrosia) alongside broader frozen-produce and fresh-produce line items spanning hundreds of grocery and produce items that meet U.S. Department of Agriculture National School Lunch Program compliance requirements, including Buy American provisions (minimum 51 percent domestic agricultural content), Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act nutrition standards, whole-grain mandates, and zero trans-fat specifications. The issuing bodies are almost exclusively school districts and county boards of education in the Southeast, with one municipal utility appearing in the Decatur City Schools procurement. Vendors deliver to central warehouses and designated school sites Monday through Friday under firm fixed-price contracts with no fuel surcharges, maintain HACCP plans with 24/7 recall accessibility, carry $500,000 to $2,000,000 liability insurance per occurrence, and comply with federal E-Verify and debarment certifications.

The geographic concentration is heavily weighted to Georgia and Connecticut, with secondary activity in Missouri. Recent representative opportunities include the City of Bridgeport (Connecticut) Department of Public Purchases seeking grocery items for the Bridgeport Board of Education via IFB with a response deadline of June 30, 2026; the Hancock County Board of Education (Georgia) requesting fresh produce including multiple apple varieties under IFB #SN002-2027 with a June 26, 2026 response date; the Douglas County School System (Georgia) issuing RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs across 30 school districts with estimated annual spending of $5.5 million combined and a March 4, 2026 response date; the City Schools of Decatur (Georgia) procuring frozen foods and grocery items under IFB with a May 15, 2026 deadline; and the Rockwood R-VI School District (Missouri) soliciting grocery items supporting approximately 6,900 daily lunch and 900 breakfast participants with electronic bid submission by April 29, 2026. School nutrition procurement under this code typically runs July 1 through June 30 annually with renewal options up to three or four additional years, and award decisions favor lowest responsive and responsible bidders with evaluation periods extending 60 to 90 days post-opening.