UNSPSC 50545900: Frozen non GMO pomegranates

The type of thick-skinned several-celled reddish berry that is about the size of an orange and has many seeds with pulpy crimson arils of tart flavor that has 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 50545900 Frozen non-GMO pomegranates is a Class code that does not reflect the actual scope of work state and local governments are currently procuring under this category. The recent opportunities tagged to this code comprise school nutrition programs soliciting comprehensive grocery and produce supply contracts spanning hundreds of line items—fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy, meats, grains, condiments, beverages, and non-food supplies—rather than procurement focused on frozen pomegranates specifically. School districts and county boards of education dominate the issuing bodies, with repeat activity from Georgia districts (Douglas County School System, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Hancock County Board of Education, Early County Board of Education, City Schools of Decatur) and a notable solicitation from Rockwood R-VI School District in Missouri and the City of Bridgeport in Connecticut. All school nutrition procurements emphasize National School Lunch Program compliance, USDA Buy American provisions (minimum 51 percent domestic agricultural content), HACCP plans, firm fixed pricing with transportation included, Net 30 to Net 45 payment terms, and comprehensive food safety and compliance documentation including E-Verify authorization, debarment certification, and liability insurance ($500,000 to $2,000,000 per occurrence).

Geographic concentration centers on Georgia, with activity in February through June 2026 across multiple districts and counties, plus isolated recent procurements in Missouri and Connecticut. Representative opportunities include the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases' IFB for over 1,100 grocery line items (response due June 30, 2026); Hancock County Board of Education's IFB for fresh produce spanning 200+ items with 51 percent Buy American requirements (due June 26, 2026); Early County Board of Education's line-by-line food bid covering 300+ food items and 60+ non-food supplies (due June 8, 2026); and the Douglas County School System's RFP for fresh produce and eggs serving 30 districts with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million for Area One (proposal due March 4, 2026). The code's nominal scope—frozen pomegranates—bears no meaningful relationship to these school nutrition supply contracts; the mismatch suggests either coding error or overly broad category tagging in the state and local procurement systems.