FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 25, 2009
CONTACT: Michael Winder, SD DOC (605) 773-3478

Inmate garden produces more than thirty tons of food
Prison garden produce distributed to Yankton and Springfield areas

Pierre, S.D. - Community organizations in Yankton, Springfield and Freeman received more than thirty tons of fresh produce this year, courtesy of state prison inmates at the Yankton Minimum Unit and the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.

Inmates produced a total of 63-thousand and 412 pounds of beets, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, gourds, kohlrabi, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons and zucchini this year.

Inmates in the horticulture program at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield start growing the tomatoes and peppers, which then are transferred to a larger garden at the Yankton Minimum Unit. The other vegetables are grown from seed at the Yankton facility.

In addition to providing fresh produce for the inmates, the produce is also donated to the Yankton Senior Citizens Center, Yankton Banquet, Yankton Area Adjustment Training Center, Yankton Monastery, Yankton County Jail, Human Services Center Dietary, Springfield Senior Citizens Center, Scotland Good Samaritan Center, Cedar Village Assisted Living, Freeman Bethany Food Pantry and schools in Yankton, Scotland and the Bon Homme districts.

More than 500 pumpkins grown in the prison garden were also given out to third grade students in Yankton, Springfield, Freeman, Scotland, Wakonda and Irene this fall.

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