UNSPSC 50584500: Non GMO lettuces

The type of Non GMO vegetable known as Non GMO lettuces. 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 50584500 Non GMO lettuces, a Class code, encompasses fresh produce procurement for school nutrition programs, child nutrition services, and institutional food operations — work dominated by school districts sourcing salad greens, lettuce varieties, and mixed-vegetable produce lines as components of comprehensive food-service contracts. State and local governments buying under this code are primarily school districts and county boards of education across the South and Texas, with representatives including Early County Schools (Georgia), Bulloch County School District (Georgia), Muscogee County School District (Georgia), Liberty County Board of Education (Georgia), Glynn County Board of Education (Georgia), Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida), Northside Independent School District (Texas), McAllen Independent School District (Texas), and Austin Independent School District (Texas). These districts solicit fresh-produce supply contracts annually to support National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program operations, with lettuce and leafy greens appearing as line items in broader produce-and-food-service RFPs and IFBs.

Recent opportunities show school districts issuing RFPs and IFBs for annual or multi-year produce contracts with response dates concentrated between late February and late May 2026. Early County Board of Education issued an IFB for food vendors with a June 8, 2026 response date emphasizing domestic sourcing, whole-grain options, low-sodium formulations, and products without artificial additives; the contract runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Northside Independent School District (San Antonio, Texas) solicited fresh-produce supply through RFP 2026-048 due May 7, 2026, requiring USDA Child Nutrition Reimbursable compliance, five-day-per-week delivery to all campuses August through May, and pricing based on USDA Specialty Crops Terminal Markets Standard Reports with monthly adjustments. Muscogee County School District issued ITB 26-017 for produce items due April 27, 2026, with pricing calculated as markup above the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News Index Price. Glynn County Board of Education (Georgia) requested bids through IFB 27-02 due April 14, 2026 for fresh produce delivery to 16 schools, with compliance required for the Buy American provision and HACCP plans. The Douglas County School System issued RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs serving 30 school districts across two Georgia geographic areas, with estimated annual spending of approximately $4.4 million for Area One and $1.1 million for Area Two, proposals due March 4, 2026. Geographic concentration is strongest in Georgia and Texas, with activity also reported in Florida and Missouri; most solicitations specify weekly or twice-weekly delivery windows during school-year operation (July through June) and require HACCP certification, Buy American compliance, general liability insurance, and debarment verification.