UNSPSC 50542014: Frozen non GMO thornless hull blackberries

The variety of non GMO blackberries known as non GMO thornless hull blackberries 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 50542014 Frozen non-GMO thornless hull blackberries is a Commodity-level code that captures highly specific frozen berry procurement within broader school nutrition and institutional food service supply chains. State and local procurement activity under this code shows minimal direct solicitation of blackberries as line-item products; instead, frozen blackberries appear as one ingredient or line item within large, consolidated food service RFPs and IFBs where school districts and municipal agencies source hundreds of grocery and frozen food items from single or multiple vendors. The actual work being solicited spans school nutrition programs (the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program), with districts requiring products that meet USDA compliance, Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act nutrition standards, whole-grain requirements where applicable, and often domestic-sourcing preferences under Buy American provisions. Vendors must deliver to central warehouse hubs and individual school sites on standard pallets with prepaid freight and one-for-one exchange; comply with HACCP plans and 24/7 recall accessibility; maintain general liability and products liability insurance in the $1 million to $2 million range; and pass blind testing for color, texture, taste, and specification compliance. The issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (often the primary purchasing vehicle) and, in one case, a city municipal government sourcing for school systems—Bridgeport, Decatur, Early County, Savannah-Chatham County, Hancock County, Rockwood, and Douglas County school systems dominate the recent record.

Geographic activity concentrates in Georgia and the Southeast, with recent solicitations posted from Hancock County, Decatur City Schools, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, and Douglas County School System in Georgia; Early County Board of Education in Georgia; and a multi-district cooperative procurement through the GEC Buying Cooperative spanning 30 Georgia school districts. Bridgeport, Connecticut (City Schools) and Rockwood, Missouri (St. Louis County) represent Midwest and Northeast participation. Representative recent opportunities include Hancock County Board of Education's fresh-produce IFB (due June 26, 2026) spanning over 200 line items of fresh and frozen berries with delivery to three schools; the Bridgeport Board of Education's grocery-items RFQ (due June 30, 2026) with over 1,100 line items across frozen products, cereals, and produce; and the Douglas County School System's fresh-produce-and-eggs RFP through the GEC Buying Cooperative (due March 4, 2026) covering 30 districts with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million to $1.1 million across geographic areas. Most contracts run July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with optional renewal periods, firm pricing requirements, Net 30 to Net 45 payment terms, and awards often made on a line-item basis to multiple vendors.