UNSPSC 50541808: Frozen non GMO atropurpurea barberries

The variety of non GMO barberries known as non GMO atropurpurea barberries 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 50541808 Frozen non-GMO atropurpurea barberries is a Commodity code, but the recent state and local opportunities posted under it do not involve barberries or specialty produce — the code shows a systematic mismatch between its nominal scope and actual procurement activity. The five recent opportunities solicited under this code span general food and grocery procurement for school districts, county government, and state agencies, encompassing shelf-stable staples (peanut butter, canned proteins, rice, pasta, soups, canned vegetables), fresh produce (apples, berries, leafy greens, root vegetables, melons), frozen and refrigerated items (dairy, frozen vegetables and fruits), bread products, fluid milk, meat and poultry, and kitchen supplies and disposables. The issuing bodies are education-focused — the Bridgeport Board of Education (via the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases), Hancock County Board of Education in Georgia, Early County Board of Education in Georgia — alongside county government (Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners for community services) and state-level procurement (State of Georgia). School districts account for the majority of recent activity and are repeat buyers across the block.

Recent opportunities are concentrated in Georgia and Connecticut. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners issued an IFB for approximately 1,062 cases of shelf-stable food items (peanut butter, jelly, canned proteins, rice, pasta, sauces, soups, canned vegetables) with a response due October 19, 2026, for delivery to the Gwinnett Senior Services Center by December 7, 2026, with awards made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder evaluated per unit of measure. The City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases (on behalf of the Bridgeport Board of Education) solicited bids on over 1,100 line items of grocery items for the 2026-27 school year, with electronic bids due June 30, 2026, subject to Buy American provision requirements (51% domestic agricultural ingredients) and Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act nutrition standards, requiring samples subject to blind testing and inclusion of complete nutritional analyses and product labels at bid submission. Hancock County Board of Education in Georgia issued an IFB for over 200 line items of fresh produce spanning apples, berries, cruciferous and root vegetables, melons, citrus, leafy greens, and specialty items, with bids due June 26, 2026 and delivery to three school sites from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The code shows little relevant activity aligned to its stated specialty produce designation; procurement officers should verify coding before pursuing opportunities under this classification.