Inmates Grow Food for Community Organizations

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — Officials say inmates in two state prison facilities have grown more than 21 tons of fresh produce that was donated this year to community organizations in southeastern South Dakota.

Inmates harvested more than 43,000 pounds of beets, carrots, cucumbers, kohlrabi, okra, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, rutabagas, squash, tomatoes, watermelons and zucchini this year.

Inmates in the horticulture program at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield start growing tomatoes and peppers before the plants are transferred to a garden at the Yankton Minimum Unit at the state Human Services Center. The other vegetables are grown from seed at the Yankton facility.

The gardening provides fresh produce for inmates at the two facilities and also is donated to a food pantry, some senior citizens centers, some area schools and other organizations.

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