By C1 Staff
PONTOTOC, Miss. — For years now, inmates at the Pontotoc County Jail have been growing their own food – especially corn.
“Yeah, we grow it out here. And, after we pull the corn, we shuck it and put it up ourselves,” Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask told WTVA.
Corn is a big part of the menu at the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Department.
This year they’ve already picked some 500 gallons of corn, despite having to start late due to rain. According to the sheriff, about three gallons of corn can feed 90 inmates.
It’s a good return on an investment, and it saves the county money too.
“Well, it saves on food costs. And you know you get your inmates out to work and it helps with our budget,” Mask said.
The jail also grows sweet potatoes, okra, squash, butter beans, and much more.
“We grow everything that they would buy at the store,” the sheriff said.
Local merchants donate the seeds for the jail’s crop each year.