UNSPSC 50544621: Frozen non GMO icebox melons

The variety of non GMO melons known as non GMO icebox melons 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 50544621 Frozen non-GMO icebox melons is a Commodity code that covers fresh and frozen melon products sourced for school nutrition programs and institutional food service. State and local governments buying under this code procure frozen and fresh melons as part of comprehensive grocery and produce contracts that support the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and child nutrition services. Issuing bodies include school districts, school boards of education, and city departments of public purchases acting on behalf of boards of education. The recent opportunities show school nutrition programs across multiple states building annual or multi-year contracts with single or multiple food service vendors to supply a broad range of produce, frozen products, and groceries. Vendors compete on lowest responsive and responsible bid and must comply with Buy American provisions (minimum 51 percent domestic agricultural content for processed products), USDA food safety standards including HACCP plans with 24/7 recall accessibility, E-Verify authorization, and federal debarment certification. All contracts require firm fixed pricing with packing and transportation included; most prohibit separate fuel surcharges. Delivery windows are typically Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to central warehouses and individual school sites on pallets or in cases.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Connecticut school districts procuring fresh produce and grocery items under IFBs and RFPs with response dates between February and June 2026. Representative solicitations include the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases' grocery bid (BNB052266, due June 30, 2026) spanning over 1,100 line items for the Bridgeport Board of Education with July 2026 – June 2027 term; Hancock County Board of Education's fresh produce IFB (PE67080NONST2027000000013, due June 26, 2026) covering 200+ line items with melons specified among other produce; Decatur City Schools' frozen foods and grocery IFB (PE77310NONST2026000000018, due May 15, 2026) serving ten school sites; Savannah-Chatham County Public School System's fresh produce bid (BID2634, due April 23, 2026) covering 72 fresh produce items across 60 schools; and the Douglas County School System's cooperative purchasing RFP for fresh produce and eggs (PE64810NONST2026000000047, due March 4, 2026) serving 30 school districts across two Georgia regions with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million for Area One. The Rockwood R-VI School District in Missouri also solicited grocery items (due April 29, 2026) encompassing over 900 line items for delivery to schools and a central warehouse. Geographic activity spans Georgia (dominant with multiple concurrent school district and county procurements), Connecticut, and Missouri school nutrition programs in 2026.