UNSPSC 50593904: Dried Non GMO calabash gourds

The variety of Non GMO gourds known as Non GMO calabash gourds that have been dried 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 50593904 Dried Non GMO calabash gourds is a Commodity code that in theory represents a specific agricultural product, but the recent state and local opportunities posted under this code show no solicitations actually seeking dried calabash gourds. Instead, the code tags a broad portfolio of food-service and school-nutrition procurement spanning fresh produce, packaged meals, grocery staples, and senior meal preparation and delivery. The actual buying under this code reflects institutional food-service operations where jurisdiction procurement offices aggregate produce and consumable food items across multiple line items and vendors rather than sourcing a single specialty item. Issuing bodies include school districts (Bridgeport Board of Education in Connecticut, Hancock County Board of Education in Georgia, Pascagoula-Gautier School District in Mississippi), county governments (Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in Florida), state health and human services agencies (Texas Health and Human Services Commission), and state procurement offices (State of Georgia). School nutrition programs dominate the recent activity, with multiple districts pursuing fresh-produce contracts under the National School Lunch Program and Buy American requirements mandating 51 percent domestic agricultural content.

Recent opportunities span Connecticut, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. Representative solicitations include the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases issuing an RFB for over 1,100 grocery line items (breakfast, cereals, frozen products, vegetables, fruits, dairy, snacks, beverages, meat) for the Board of Education's Food & Nutrition Services with a due date of June 30, 2026; Hancock County Board of Education in Georgia posting an IFB for fresh produce covering over 200 line items (apples, berries, cruciferous and root vegetables, melons, citrus, leafy greens, specialty fruits) due June 26, 2026; Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in Florida seeking competitive sealed bids for senior meal preparation and delivery services across 25 dining and care locations with an estimated contract value of $17.8 million over three years, bids due June 25, 2026; Texas Health and Human Services Commission issuing an IFB for food and consumable products for the El Paso State Supported Living Center with historical annual spend of $1.5 million, proposals due July 11, 2026; and the State of Georgia requesting bids on food, supplies, and other kitchen products due June 22, 2026. The Commodity code shows inconsistent mapping to actual procurement need — a signal that this code may be misapplied in many jurisdictions' tagging systems.