The Missouri Department of Corrections' Restorative Justice Garden Program donated 91 tons of fresh produce in 2015 to local food pantries, shelters, churches, nursing homes and other organizations throughout the state.
The program operates without the assistance of taxpayer money and grows a variety of produce every year at all 21 adult institutions and three of the community supervision centers of the Division of Probation and Parole in Missouri.
For many of the local food pantries, shelters and other organizations that receive the produce, the offender-grown produce is the only fresh produce available. Nursing homes and after-school programs also take donations from the institutions to incorporate the fresh fruit and vegetables into the meals for residents and students.
The Boonville Correctional Center was the department's top producer this year, with more than 37 tons of produce donated, while the Farmington Correctional Center donated the second-largest amount with more than 32 tons. The Southeast Correctional Center rounded out the department's top three with more than 25 tons of produce donated.
In addition to donating produce, several institutions donated whole plants to various outreach organizations in Missouri.