UNSPSC 50581601: Non GMO connover's colossal asparagus

The variety of Non GMO asparagus known as Non GMO connover's colossal asparagus. 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 50581601 Non GMO Connover's colossal asparagus, a Commodity code, does not reflect what state and local governments are actually soliciting under this designation. Recent opportunities tagged with this code involve broad food service procurement for child nutrition, school breakfast and lunch programs, and institutional cafeteria operations, not asparagus supply in any meaningful volume or emphasis.

State and local procurement activity under this code centers on school districts and county education boards purchasing comprehensive fresh produce assortments—apples, bananas, berries, broccoli, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, leafy greens, eggs, and dozens of other items—for cafeteria operations serving tens of thousands of students daily. Issuing bodies are predominantly school nutrition programs (Early County Schools, Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Rockwood School District in Missouri, Liberty County Board of Education in Georgia, Muscogee County Schools in Georgia, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, Glynn County Board of Education in Georgia, McAllen Independent School District in Texas, Austin Independent School District, Douglas County School System in Georgia serving a cooperative of 30 districts, and Bulloch County School District in Georgia), with additional procurement from state education agencies. Recent solicitations emphasize domestic or locally grown sourcing preferences, USDA compliance (including Buy American provisions and Child Nutrition Reimbursable standards), HACCP certification, temperature-controlled delivery, and firm pricing for 12-month contract periods; many include automatic renewal options for additional one-year terms. Deliveries occur Monday through Friday during school hours (typically 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) to multiple school sites with weekly or twice-weekly frequency.

Georgia and Texas dominate recent activity. The state of Georgia has posted IFB solicitations for fresh produce; Bulloch County, Liberty County, Glynn County, Douglas County (through the GEC cooperative), Muscogee County, and Savannah-Chatham County School Systems have all solicited produce and food service contracts between February and May 2026. Texas activity includes Northside Independent School District (San Antonio, Bexar County), McAllen Independent School District, and Austin Independent School District. Missouri's Rockwood R-VI School District and Florida's Hillsborough County Public Schools round out the recent geographic spread. Representative solicitations include Early County Board of Education's IFB (PE55045NONST2027000000006, due June 8, 2026) seeking 300+ food items including produce, dairy, and meats for the School Lunch and Breakfast Programs; Northside Independent School District's RFP 2026-048 (due May 7, 2026) for fresh produce delivery to 127 school campuses across the 2026–2027 school year; and Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 (due March 4, 2026) procuring produce and eggs on behalf of a 30-district cooperative in Georgia with estimated annual spend of approximately $5.5 million combined.