UNSPSC 50604609: Frozen Non GMO ruby romaine lettuce

The variety of Non GMO lettuce known as Non GMO ruby romaine lettuce 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 50604609 Frozen Non GMO Ruby Romaine Lettuce is a Commodity code that covers frozen specialty lettuce products procured by state agencies, county governments, and school districts for food service operations, institutional kitchens, and meal programs. Recent state and local solicitations show that issuing bodies under this code span the purchasing range from county social services departments sourcing shelf-stable and fresh food items for senior nutrition programs, to state-level food procurement for institutional use, to school districts acquiring produce and produce-adjacent items for National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program operations. The actual work being solicited includes both frozen vegetables and fresh or processed produce as components of broader food-service supply contracts rather than as standalone frozen-lettuce-only buys; lettuce and similar items typically appear as line items within multi-category food packages that also include proteins, grains, condiments, and dairy.

Recent activity shows Georgia is the primary state soliciting under this code, with Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners posting an IWQ for approximately 1,062 cases of food items including shelf-stable vegetables due October 19, 2026; the State of Georgia posting a broader food, supplies, and other kitchen products bid due June 22, 2026; and Early County Board of Education posting a line-by-line food bid for National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program items due June 8, 2026, with contract performance running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The Early County Schools solicitation explicitly emphasizes domestic sourcing, whole-grain options, low-sodium formulations, and products without added sugars or artificial additives, and requires vendors to comply with Buy American provisions, maintain HACCP plans, carry $500,000 general liability insurance, and allow piggybacking by other school districts on identical contract terms.