As March 2024 ushers in National Nutrition Month, CDCR is showcasing the progress Harvest of the Month (HOTM) has made bringing local, fresh produce to its institutions.
HOTM started with three institutions in November 2023 and has since expanded to nine prisons. An additional three institutions will be included in April. CDCR’s goal is to have all institutions participating in HOTM by October 2025.
“The 2024 National Nutrition Month is a reminder of the importance of the HOTM project,” said Lance Eshelman, CDCR Departmental Food Administrator. “Providing fresh food to those under our care is important and it has a broader impact on people’s well-being and overall health.”
At the heart of this initiative lies a commitment to providing fresh, locally sourced produce to incarcerated persons, fostering a deeper connection to the food they consume and its nutritional value.
In collaboration with local farmers and community partners, CDCR has established relationships with thriving farms, cultivating a diverse array of fruits and vegetables year-round.
“To date, we have served 60,000 pounds of fresh produce to the incarcerated population,” reports Eshelman. “The future holds exciting growth for CDCR and the expansion of the HOTM to all intuitions.”
In March 2024, facilities received fresh grapefruits from local farmers.
Over the course of the program, facilities have received a variety of fruit including:
- watermelon
- pluots (a plum and apricot hybrid)
- persimmons
- butternut squash
- and asparagus
Story by Todd Javernick, Public Information Officer
Office of Public and Employee Communications
In case you missed it, watch this video on the Harvest of the Month program at CDCR:
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