Pierre, S.D. - Community organizations in Yankton and Springfield received more than nine 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 19-thousand 164 pounds of peppers, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, gourds, kohlrabi, okra, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rutabagas, squash, zucchini, tomatoes and turnips this year.

Inmates in the horticulture program at Mike Durfee State Prison 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 Human Services Center, Yankton Senior Citizens Center, Yankton Banquet, Yankton Area Adjustment Training Center, Yankton Monastery, Yankton County Jail, Yankton Elementary Schools, Bon Homme County Public Schools, Springfield Senior Citizens Center and the Freeman Bethany Food Pantry.

Total produced, in pounds: