UNSPSC 50586602: Non GMO asiatic bitter yams

The variety of Non GMO yams known as Non GMO asiatic bitter yams. 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 50586602 Non GMO asiatic bitter yams is a Commodity code that maps to fresh produce procurement by state and local bodies, though the recent solicitations tagged under it do not specifically isolate bitter yams or other tropical root vegetables. Instead, the code appears in a broader produce and food-service contracting environment where state and local buyers source fresh fruits, vegetables, and prepared food items through formal competitive processes. The issuing bodies span county parks and recreation divisions, school districts, state purchasing offices, and healthcare coalition procurement arms — a diverse mix reflecting how commodity codes often cluster related food-sourcing activity rather than isolate single items. School districts dominate the recent activity, with early County Board of Education and other K–12 purchasers running line-by-line produce and food-service bids as part of National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program operations. Counties and regional health systems also solicit produce and food services, typically through ITN or IFB processes with multi-month contract terms and requirements for HACCP compliance, food-safety certification, and domestic-sourcing preferences where applicable.

Recent opportunities span Georgia (state-level food procurement, Early County Schools) and Florida (Collier County parks concessions, Marion Health Care Coalition produce proposals), with the School Breakfast/Lunch Program driving recurring annual volume. The most active recent solicitation is Early County Board of Education's FY27 Food Bid (IFB, due June 8, 2026, with questions due May 29, 2026), which sought line-by-line bids covering approximately 300 food items including vegetables, fruits, dairy, and grains with emphasis on whole-grain and low-sodium formulations and domestic sourcing. Collier County Board of County Commissioners posted an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for food services at North Collier Regional Park (due March 6, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. EST) with a local-vendor preference worth 10 points; Marion Health Care Coalition solicited produce vendors for the 2026-2027 period (RFQ, due August 21, 2026); and the State of Georgia requested bids on food, supplies, and other kitchen products (IFB, due June 22, 2026). Contract terms typically run one to three years with renewal options, and vendors must satisfy health-code compliance, liability insurance ($500,000 to $1,000,000), E-Verify verification, and, where applicable, Buy American and WBE/MBE evaluation criteria.