UNSPSC 50583321: Non GMO telegraph improved cucumbers

The variety of Non GMO cucumbers known as Non GMO telegraph improved cucumbers. 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 50583321 Non GMO telegraph improved cucumbers is a Commodity code that captures state and local procurement of fresh produce—including cucumbers and other vegetables—to support child nutrition, school meal programs, and institutional food service. Recent solicitations show state and local buyers purchasing fresh produce as part of broader institutional food contracts, though the code title references a specific cultivar that does not dominate the actual buying activity on the ground. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts and county boards of education, with occasional state purchasing for general operations. School nutrition programs drive the majority of activity, with vendors required to meet USDA Child Nutrition Reimbursable standards, HACCP certification, Buy American compliance, and food safety requirements including traceability systems and recall procedures. Delivery logistics are tightly specified—most contracts require Monday-through-Friday service windows (typically 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM or 2:30 PM) with temperature-controlled refrigeration and specified minimum shelf life at delivery. Pricing models vary: some districts use USDA Agricultural Marketing Service terminal market index-based formulas with vendor markups or cost-plus-fixed-fee structures, while others solicit firm fixed pricing for annual contracts with prospective price redetermination allowed only after documented market moves above specified thresholds (often 3–5 percent). Contracts typically run July 1 through June 30 with options to renew for one to four additional one-year periods contingent on performance and available funding.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Texas, with the Douglas County School System soliciting for a 30-district cooperative covering two geographic areas representing approximately $5.5 million in estimated annual spending, Bulloch County Schools seeking locally-grown produce within 200 miles, Glynn County issuing a single-vendor IFB for 60 produce line items across 16 schools, and multiple Texas districts—Austin ISD, Northside ISD (San Antonio), and McAllen ISD—soliciting annual produce contracts emphasizing Good Food Purchasing Program participation or Texas-grown sourcing preferences. Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa issued an RFP for specialty fruits and vegetables for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program serving 18 elementary schools, with estimated annual budget of $600,000 and cost-plus fixed-fee-per-case pricing. Smaller districts across Missouri, Georgia, and Texas are also active, including Rockwood R-VI School District (approximately 6,900 lunch participants daily) and multiple county systems. Winning vendors face "three strikes" performance standards, E-Verify compliance verification, insurance requirements ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 in general liability coverage, and debarment certification for contracts exceeding $25,000. No set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses appear in the recent opportunities block; competition is open to all qualified vendors meeting experience (typically three to five years), licensing, and operational requirements. Response dates in recent postings ranged from March 6 through June 22, 2026, with most awards anticipated 60 days post-opening.