UNSPSC 50596214: Dried Non GMO middle eastern squash

The variety of Non GMO summer squashes and summer pumpkins known as Non GMO middle eastern squash that has 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 50596214 Dried Non GMO middle eastern squash is a Commodity code that nominally addresses a single dried vegetable product, yet the recent state and local opportunities tagged under it span a vastly broader scope of food procurement — primarily fresh produce, groceries, meal preparation, and comprehensive food service supply for schools, senior programs, and government facilities. The mismatch between the code's narrow name and the actual purchasing activity reflects how state and local procurement offices often apply commodity codes to capture multi-category food solicitations rather than tagging individual product lines. State and local buyers under this code include school districts (Bridgeport, Fairfax County, Bulloch County, Savannah-Chatham County, Meriden Public Schools, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Hancock County Board of Education, and Douglas County School System in Georgia), a state agency (Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the State of Georgia), a county board of commissioners (Hillsborough County, Florida), and municipal government (City of Dallas). School nutrition programs dominate the solicitation volume, with fresh produce, packaged groceries, and meal delivery contracts representing the most frequent procurement activity.

Recent opportunities cluster primarily in the Southeast, with Georgia appearing in at least five separate solicitations (State of Georgia Food Supplies, Bulloch County Schools, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Douglas County School System for both food supply distribution and fresh produce and eggs), and additional activity in Florida (Hillsborough County senior meals, estimated contract value $17.8 million over three years), Connecticut (Meriden Public Schools RFP 026-41 for approximately $3.1 million annually), Virginia (Fairfax County Public Schools Master Grocery K-12 IFB 2000004323 due April 27, 2026), Mississippi (Pascagoula-Gautier School District packaged meal boxes IFB due April 29, 2026), Texas (Douglas County School System RFP 26-003 with an estimated $9 million annual expenditure for food supply and distribution to 32 schools, due February 18, 2026; and City of Dallas boxed and self-service bulk meal delivery RFCSP due March 27, 2026), and Connecticut (City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases BNB052266 for grocery items supporting the Bridgeport Board of Education, electronic bids due June 30, 2026). These procurements typically require Buy American provisions (51 percent domestic agricultural content for processed products, 100 percent domestic for fresh produce where feasible), HACCP food safety plans, compliance with the National School Lunch Program and Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act standards where applicable, firm fixed pricing for contract periods, and delivery to multiple school or facility sites on compressed schedules (Monday–Friday, often between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. or within narrow afternoon windows). Vendors face extensive insurance, debarment, E-Verify, and background-screening requirements, with school districts and public agencies typically requiring $1 million or greater general liability coverage and mandatory additional-insured status.