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Watch: Harvest of the Month: Local, fresh produce

March 30, 2026

In recognition of National Nutrition Month, CDCR is highlighting its Harvest of the Month (HOTM) program.

HOTM is a joint initiative between CDCR and Impact Justice bringing fresh, locally sourced fruits and vegetables into correctional facilities. Through partnerships with California food-growers, the program supports healthy food access to the incarcerated population while strengthening community partnerships.

The program began in July 2023 with three institutions participating. The department’s goal was to have all institutions participating in the program by October 2025.

“The Food Services Unit began a phased implementation,” said Lance Eshelman, Departmental Food Administrator. “We began with slow and steady momentum, and today the program is fully implemented at all sites.”

“Today the program is fully implemented at all sites.”

– Departmental Food Administrator Lance Eshelman

“We have heard incredible testimonies from California farmers and the incarcerated population highlighting the impact of this effort,” he added. “For some, it has been several decades without having access to the larger variety of fresh produce served through Harvest of the Month, making this program worth the hills we have climbed.”

Fresh produce means better health

HOTM providing quality produce and nutritious meals means better health for the incarcerated population. A rich diet with fresh fruit and vegetables contributes to better health and can prevent diet-related health issues.

Some incarcerated individuals say that before the program, they didn’t have the opportunity to experience the produce now available to them.

“I wasn’t really eating healthy and I didn’t focus my eating around vegetables,” Frank Camacho said. “Experiencing the program allows for us to try a vegetable we never tried before.”

CDCR supports California farmers

When California Assembly Bill 778 passed, schools and state-run institutions shifted to prioritize purchasing California-grown food products. This initiative supports California farmers and impacts communities across the state.

“This program is expanding access to a variety of fresh, healthy food for incarcerated people, and it’s also creating a huge impact for local farmers by reinforcing a reliable purchasing pathway for them,” said Heile Gantan-Keo, Impact Justice’s Food in Prison Program Manager. “This unique partnership shows what’s possible when we invest in mutually beneficial solutions, and our hope is that we’re paving the way for other institutions across the country to step up in similar and creative ways.”

Story by Emily Idleman, Information Officer
Video by Bernadette Durley, TV Specialist
Office of Public and Employee Communications

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