UNSPSC 50604110: Frozen Non GMO epazote

The variety of Non GMO herbs known as Non GMO epazote 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 50604110 Frozen Non-GMO epazote (Commodity) describes specialty frozen vegetables and herbs procured primarily by school districts and state education agencies to support meal programs, though the recent opportunities block shows no direct solicitations for epazote itself—the code is tagged to broader school nutrition food procurements that encompass multiple frozen and fresh produce categories. State and local governments buying under this code purchase frozen produce and specialty ingredients as components of comprehensive school lunch and breakfast program contracts; the issuing bodies are predominantly independent school districts (Dallas ISD, Henry County Schools, City Schools of Decatur, Douglas County Schools, Early County Schools) and state education procurement offices rather than counties or municipalities. The scope spans line-item food bidding for school nutrition services, with vendors required to meet USDA commodity specifications, maintain HACCP food safety plans, comply with Buy American requirements, achieve cold chain temperature management (33–41°F for refrigerated items, zero degrees or below for frozen products), and in some cases conform to health-conscious standards including low-sodium formulations, whole-grain requirements, and zero trans-fat per serving.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia, with a significant secondary presence in Texas. Representative recent opportunities include Henry County Schools' IFB for food items and products across 52 school locations (bid due May 5, 2026); City Schools of Decatur's IFB for frozen foods and grocery items serving ten schools during the 2026–2027 school year with sealed bids due May 15, 2026; Early County Board of Education's line-by-line food bid covering 300+ food items with a June 8, 2026 deadline; Douglas County School System's RFP for fresh produce and eggs through the GEC Buying Cooperative serving 30 districts with estimated spending of $4.4 million to $1.1 million by geographic area (sealed proposals due March 4, 2026); and Dallas Independent School District's RFP for supplemental food products including spice and ice cream lots with bids due April 2, 2026. School district contracts typically run one school year (July 1 through June 30) with renewal options of one to four additional years; payment terms are Net 30 days; and most solicitations require general liability insurance of $1,000,000 minimum per occurrence, workers' compensation coverage, E-Verify authorization, and debarment certification.