UNSPSC 50604614: Frozen Non GMO green leaf lettuce

The variety of Non GMO lettuce known as Non GMO green leaf 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 50604614 Frozen Non GMO Green Leaf Lettuce is a Commodity code that captures frozen vegetable products procured by state and local governments for school nutrition programs and institutional food service operations. While the code nominally specifies frozen non-GMO green leaf lettuce, recent state and local solicitations tagged to this code show broader procurement patterns: school districts, state education agencies, and institutional buyers are soliciting fresh produce (including lettuce and leafy greens), frozen foods, grocery items, dairy, proteins, and comprehensive food-service line items spanning hundreds of products. The actual buying reflects integrated school nutrition procurement—districts are bundling frozen and fresh produce, processed items, proteins, grains, and supplies into single IFBs and RFPs rather than purchasing frozen lettuce in isolation. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (Early County Board of Education, City Schools of Decatur, Rockwood R-VI, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, Douglas County School System) and state agencies (State of Georgia), with occasional regional cooperatives (GEC Buying Cooperative serving 30 districts). The geographic concentration is strongest in Georgia and Missouri, with secondary activity in Texas.

Representative recent solicitations include the Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 for fresh produce and eggs serving 30 school districts across Georgia with estimated annual spending of approximately $4.4 million for Area One and $1.1 million for Area Two (sealed proposals due March 4, 2026); Early County Board of Education's line-by-line food bid for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs with approximately 300+ food items and 60+ non-food and paper supplies, emphasizing domestic sourcing and low-sodium formulations (bids due June 8, 2026); and City Schools of Decatur's IFB for frozen foods and grocery items for the School Nutrition Program across ten schools with requirements for HACCP plans and $1,000,000 general liability insurance (sealed bids due May 15, 2026). Contracts typically run July 1 through June 30 with renewal options, require firm pricing for the contract period with escalation tied to USDA or CPI documentation, mandate Buy American compliance, and impose strict delivery and food-safety specifications including temperature controls, recall procedures, and E-Verify authorization. Most solicitations allow award to multiple vendors on a line-item basis and emphasize whole-grain, low-sodium, and products without artificial additives.