Offenders at Mission Institution, as part of their vocational training, grow vegetables in the garden located on institutional grounds. Every year the produce is donated to the community.
Vegetables are harvested, packed, weighed, and delivered daily to various locations within the lower mainland and, on occasion, to the Chilcotin area. The garden has been running for a number of years, however the institution is in their second year of partnership with the Lookout Society who provides the gardener, seeds, and other necessities for the garden. Mission Institution's Minimum Unit provides the land, buildings, machinery and inmate support.
To date this year, Mission Institution has delivered produce to the Mission Food Bank, St. Joseph's Food Bank in Mission, the Abbotsford Food Bank, the Abbotsford Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, the Chilliwack Salvation Army Food Bank/Soup Kitchen, the Stolo Nation, the Mission Mental Health Unit, the Chilcotin cooking seminar, and various other food banks. The Lookout Society has also picked up approximately 21,000 pounds. This brings this year's tally to approximately 32,028 pounds of produce donated!