Leavenworth ? Produce grown by inmates at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth helped more than 21,000 people this year.

Brian Habjan, a spokesman for the program, says 198,778 pounds of produce was given away free of charge this year.

The program started in 2010. The inmates grow the produce and volunteers pick it up for distribution around the Leavenworth area.

Habjan says 21,823 people received the produce this year. He says an average of 334 families and 839 individuals received the fruits and vegetables each week.

The Leavenworth Times reports that some inmates in the program receive apprenticeship program credits through the Department of Labor that can be converted into college credits.