UNSPSC 50611600: Canned or jarred Non GMO asparagus

The type of Non GMO vegetable known as Non GMO asparagus that has been canned or jarred 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 50611600 Canned or jarred Non-GMO asparagus, a Class code, encompasses preserved vegetable products that state and local governments procure primarily through school nutrition programs and institutional food service operations. The recent solicitations show state and local buyers purchasing canned and preserved vegetables as line items within broader food procurement—not standalone asparagus contracts, but rather canned vegetables (tomatoes, mixed produce) bundled into quarterly or annual school meal and institutional dining supply agreements. The issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (Fairfax County Public Schools, Burke County Public Schools, Ben Hill County Schools, Rockwood R-VI School District, Liberty County Board of Education, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Douglas County School System) and state agency institutional food services (Texas Health and Human Services Commission for state hospitals and supported living centers, Oregon Department of Corrections, Illinois Veterans Home). Texas HHS and Oregon DOC appear as repeat institutional buyers with multiple food procurement cycles. The scope spans weekly or quarterly food orders, annual fixed-price contracts with firm pricing throughout the period, and cooperative purchasing vehicles such as the GEC Buying Cooperative serving multi-district regions. Vegetables are priced per case with delivery to central warehouses or individual school sites, and contracts typically run July-June fiscal years with renewal options of one to four years at the district or agency's discretion.

Geographic activity concentrates in Texas (HHS multi-facility statewide procurements at $1.5–$4.5 million annual value), Georgia (school districts in Liberty, Muscogee, Savannah-Chatham, Burke, and Douglas Counties; Douglas County RFP for 30 districts across two areas), and Oregon (DOC institutional food service). Secondary activity appears in Illinois (Veterans Home quarterly food orders), Missouri (Rockwood School District), and Virginia (Fairfax County Public Schools). Representative recent opportunities include the Texas HHS IFB HHS0017449 (due July 13, 2026) for food and consumable products including canned goods for the El Paso State Supported Living Center with historical value of $1.5 million and estimated contract ceiling of $4.5 million over renewal periods; the Ben Hill County Schools IFB #26271 (due June 15, 2026) seeking sealed bids across multiple food categories with Buy American requirements; and the Douglas County School System RFP SN 26-004 (due March 4, 2026) for fresh produce and eggs serving 30 cooperatively purchasing districts with estimated annual spending of $4.4–$1.1 million by geographic area. Pricing in school nutrition contracts typically remains firm for 12 months with permitted adjustments tied to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service or Consumer Price Index indices, and evaluation favors lowest responsive and responsible bidders meeting specification and delivery requirements.