UNSPSC 50606858: Frozen Non GMO taro shoot

The variety of Non GMO vegetable known as Non GMO taro shoot 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 50606858 Frozen Non GMO taro shoot is a Commodity code that encompasses specialty frozen vegetables supplied to state and local food service operations, particularly school nutrition programs. The code sees solicitation activity from school districts and state purchasing offices that procure frozen and fresh produce, dairy, and prepared foods to support child nutrition and institutional meal programs. Based on recent posting activity, state and local jurisdictions acquire frozen produce and related grocery items through competitive bid processes—typically IFBs and RFPs—that bundle produce with broader food-service offerings. The Early County Board of Education's June 2026 school lunch procurement, the City Schools of Decatur's May 2026 frozen foods and grocery IFB, and the Rockwood R-VI School District's April 2026 grocery items bid all solicited frozen and fresh produce alongside complementary food categories. These jurisdictions emphasize domestic sourcing, whole-grain compliance, low-sodium and no-added-sugar formulations, HACCP food-safety plans, Buy American requirements, and compliance with USDA specifications and state E-Verify mandates. Vendors typically must maintain general liability insurance between $500,000 and $2,000,000, meet debarment certification and federal compliance documentation, and accept firm pricing for 12-month contract periods with temperature-controlled delivery to multiple school sites Monday through Friday during morning and midday windows.

Recent solicitation activity concentrates in Georgia and Missouri, with notable involvement from the State of Georgia procurement office, school districts across Georgia (Douglas County School System, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, City Schools of Decatur, Early County Board of Education), and the Rockwood R-VI School District in St. Louis County, Missouri. The Douglas County School System's February 2026 GEC Buying Cooperative RFP for fresh produce and eggs across 30 school districts in two geographic areas represents a large-scale, multi-district opportunity with an estimated $5.5 million annual spend (Area One $4.4 million, Area Two $1.1 million), while the Dallas Independent School District's February 2026 RFP for various food products and the State of Georgia's May 2026 statewide food, supplies, and kitchen products solicitation indicate ongoing state-level demand. School districts typically award contracts on a line-item or lot basis to multiple vendors, permit secondary vendor designation as backup if primary vendors cannot fulfill orders, allow three-month to one-year renewal options contingent on performance, and evaluate based on lowest responsive and responsible bid with consideration for vendor reputation and service quality. No specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses are designated in these solicitations, though jurisdictions like the City Schools of Decatur note intent to provide maximum practicable opportunities to minority firms, women-owned enterprises, and disadvantaged business categories consistent with federal standards.