AU: Prisoners turn chefs to save taxpayers

NSW prisoners are saving the state millions of dollars and learning valuable skills by growing their own produce.

More than 338,000kg of vegetables, 1.4 million litres of fresh milk and 1.5 million loaves of bread were processed through the state's prisons last financial year.

Green-thumbed prisoners also grew more than a million apples.

The program is tipped to save taxpayers up to $6 million this financial year, state Attorney-General Brad Hazzard says.

"Not only does this self-sufficiency save tax payers millions of dollars, prisoners gain valuable on-the-job skills and qualifications which make them more employable when they are released," he said on Monday.

Almost 600 prisoners have completed food-related short courses, including hygiene and agriculture.

To keep the culinary creativity flowing, $6 million will be spent on a new commercial kitchen at the John Morony Correctional Complex, north of Sydney.

The kitchen will produce food for jails across the state.

Source: au.news.yahoo.com