UNSPSC 50604101: Frozen Non GMO basil

The variety of Non GMO herbs known as Non GMO basil that has been frozen 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 50604101 Frozen Non GMO Basil, Commodity tier, reflects the narrow range of specialty produce items state and local governments purchase for school nutrition programs and institutional food service. Recent solicitations under this code are dominated by school district food service procurement, with vendors supplying frozen and fresh produce as line items within broader food and grocery contracts rather than as standalone specialty items. The code encompasses basil and similar frozen herbs purchased as components of meal preparation across multiple school sites, typically integrated into larger competitive bidding processes that also include proteins, dairy, grains, and non-food supplies. Issuing bodies are almost exclusively Georgia school districts and school systems, including independent districts (Early County Board of Education, City Schools of Decatur, Henry County Schools, Douglas County School System) and large urban districts (Dallas Independent School District in Texas). These districts procure frozen produce and related items through RFPs and IFBs to support National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program operations, with contracts running July 1 through June 30 annually and emphasizing domestic sourcing, USDA compliance, HACCP certification, and vendor integration with electronic procurement portals such as Bonfire.

Activity is concentrated in Georgia, with recent solicitations from Douglas County School System, Henry County Schools, City Schools of Decatur, and Early County Board of Education, alongside representation from Dallas Independent School District in Texas and the State of Georgia. The Douglas County School System issued RFP SN 26-004 for fresh produce and eggs on February 4, 2026, with response due March 4, 2026, encompassing 72 line items across approximately 30 districts with estimated annual spending of $5.5 million across two geographic areas and requiring unit pricing based on USDA Atlanta Terminal Wholesale Market and Urner Barry reports. Henry County Schools released two parallel IFBs (PE55645NONST2026000000009 and PE67510NONST2026000000030) on March 17, 2026, due May 5, 2026, seeking food items and products for 52 school locations with weekly delivery, cold storage capability, and electronic ordering integration. Early County Board of Education issued a line-by-line food bid (PE55045NONST2027000000006) on May 11, 2026, due June 8, 2026, emphasizing domestic sourcing, whole-grain standards, low-sodium formulations, and products without added sugars across approximately 300 food items and 60 non-food supplies. Frozen produce procurement is rarely bid as a standalone line item; basil and similar specialty items appear embedded within comprehensive food solicitations rather than as discrete commodity procurements.