UNSPSC 50541526: Frozen non GMO gala apples

The variety of non GMO apples known as non GMO gala 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 50541526 Frozen non-GMO Gala apples, a Commodity code, covers fresh and frozen apple products that state and local governments, primarily school districts, procure as part of school nutrition programs and institutional food service. Recent state and local opportunities show school districts purchasing Gala apples alongside broader fresh produce and frozen food assortments to meet National School Lunch Program and Child Nutrition Services requirements. The work involves supplying produce to multiple school sites with strict compliance to USDA Buy American provisions (minimum 51 percent domestic agricultural content), HACCP food safety plans, nutritional standards under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, allergen restrictions, and temperature-controlled delivery and storage. Issuing bodies are exclusively school districts and school boards — the Bridgeport Board of Education, Hancock County Board of Education, Early County Board of Education, City Schools of Decatur, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Rockwood R-VI School District, and Douglas County School System. These districts typically solicit produce through competitive bid or RFP processes with firm fixed pricing that includes packing and transportation, no separate fuel surcharges, and Net 30 to Net 45 payment terms.

Geographic activity concentrates in Georgia and Connecticut, with secondary representation in Missouri. The Hancock County Board of Education (Georgia) solicited fresh produce for the 2026-27 school year under IFB #SN002-2027 with a June 26, 2026 due date, specifying multiple apple varieties including Gala across over 200 line items and delivery to three school locations. The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (Georgia) issued Bid 26-34 for fresh produce on March 22, 2026 with an April 23, 2026 deadline, listing Fuji apples with estimated annual demand of 21,125 cases and delivery to 60 school sites. The Douglas County School System (Georgia) awarded an RFP for fresh produce and eggs through the GEC Buying Cooperative with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million for Area One covering 18 districts and $1.1 million for Area Two covering 12 districts, with a March 4, 2026 proposal deadline. The Bridgeport Board of Education (Connecticut) posted solicitation BNB052266 on June 30, 2026 for grocery items spanning over 1,100 line items including frozen products and fresh produce, with delivery to a central warehouse and designated school sites. Pricing pressure is moderate to high — school districts routinely award to multiple vendors, conduct blind testing on samples, and reserve the right to source from alternates if price increases exceed thresholds (typically 3 percent to 10 percent) or if primary vendors cannot meet demand.