Austin Frerick

Since 1982, America has lost 80% of its dairies and 90% of its hog farms, mostly small, independent family operations.

(stat from @austinfrerick.bsky.social 's book "Barons.")

Whirlwind week 🍃💨

Monday: Princeton University
Tuesday: Land Stewardship Project in Lanesboro, MN
Wednesday: IACP Awards in Brooklyn

So lucky to be presenting Barons more than a year after publication

“You’re a winner, baby!” 🥳😜

Honored to have won the best “Food Issues” book from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).

Haha, thanks! I really enjoyed it, and it went by super fast.

The Hidden Supply Chain Making Every Menu Feel Familiar Meet broadline distributor Sysco.

I went back on Bloomberg’s biggest podcast, Odd Lots, to discuss the Distribution Baron in my paperback: Sysco. I chatted with Tracy and Joe about how Sysco built its empire, what we’ve lost because of it, and, more importantly, what we can do about it.

Enjoy!

Let's use reality, not libertarian pie-in-the-sky.

Take crop insurance.

It existed going back to the 1930s, but was a tiny program for family farms. Fast forward to massive consolidation post-80s from deregulation - that program gets turbocharged for corporate interest and drives overproduction

Where? Lawyer isn't on that webpage.

Take JBS, the largest meatpacker the world's ever seen. They've been accused of bribing meat inspectors, buying off politicians, hiring children in packing plants, and using slave-like labor.

Their not going to let any regulator change get in their way. Hence, they were Trump's largest inaug donor.

Our fundamental disagreement: I believe no meaningful regulatory change can be made without first trust-busting. It's step one before anything else. The money and power will undermine any reforms.

I also have no legal training.

I also think we might differ on the fundamental problem here. You seem to think govt is the problem whereas I see the regs reflecting unchecked corporate power. In this case, it being the largest private company in America: Cargill.

Because it's an interview about food distribution, not the Farm Bill. I have an entire chapter on the Farm Bill via a Grain Baron chapter that we did an entirely different Odds Lots episode last year on.

The Hidden Supply Chain Making Every Menu Feel Familiar Meet broadline distributor Sysco.

I went back on Bloomberg’s biggest podcast, Odd Lots, to discuss the Distribution Baron in my paperback: Sysco. I chatted with Tracy and Joe about how Sysco built its empire, what we’ve lost because of it, and, more importantly, what we can do about it.

Enjoy!

US beef prices are soaring. Will Trump's plans lower them? Trump is under fire from ranchers, who say his ideas to lower prices address "symptoms not the problems".

I spoke to the BBC about what's going on with America's beef markets.

"These are consolidated markets gouging ranchers and gouging consumers at the store."

Today, just 4 firms control more than 80% of the beef slaughtering and packing market.

aw, thanks :)

Tonight’s Dinner Fell Off the Sysco Truck Sysco’s market dominance means that something essential is being lost. As local businesses fade away, a sense of a distinct regional and local identity disappears with them.

Yup! It's in the paperback. Here's a snippet published recently, too.

Upcoming Talk! More info: cpree.princeton.edu/events/2025/...

YouTube video by More Perfect Union I Tracked Down The Company Ruining Restaurants

Over 600k+ YouTube and 5m TikTok views in the first 24 hours!

Honored to be a part of this new video w/ @moreperfectunion.bsky.social based on my new chapter on Sysco - my Distribution Barons - the largest global food distributor for eating out.

"Frerick said there are many ways to get around Iowa's anti-corporate laws, adding that it’s an open secret they're being ignored."

One of the coolest barns I've ever been in - and such an honor to be one of the keynotes at the Real Organic Project conference this weekend.

Catch me later this week if you're in the Bay Area.

Tonight’s Dinner Fell Off the Sysco Truck Sysco’s market dominance means that something essential is being lost. As local businesses fade away, a sense of a distinct regional and local identity disappears with them.

New excerpt from my expanded paperback-

"Sysco’s market dominance means that something essential is being lost. As local businesses fade away, a sense of a distinct regional and local identity disappears with them."

Thanks!

Oh, I'm not. I sent them a copy of the book a year ago, but radio silence.

Yup! Figuring out exactly when as we speak. I've never been and I think I missed the boat on snagging a concert ticket but I'm coincidentally in town so I figured why not swing by.

Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry – Lunch Talk with author Austin Frerick | Stanford Law School Join Stanford’s Climate and Energy Policy Program (CEPP) for a lunch discussion with Austin Frerick, author of the acclaimed 2024 book Barons: Mone

Three talks coming up --

Twin Cities Vegfest: Sept 21 230pm ET (Harriet Island Park)

Stanford Law: Sept 23 4pm ET

Real Organic Project: Sept 27 10am ET (Hudson, NY)

The League of Women Voters made a special drink for my last paperback book event 🥳🥹

YouTube video by League of Women Voters Ames and Story County Food Barons - Eight Families that Rule Your Food Choices

Here's a video of it

And we're off -- first paperback event!

Special thanks to the Iowa Center for the Book, Dog·Eared Books, League of Women Voters, and the Ames Public Library

@austinfrerick.bsky.social new paprback edition chapter features Milk & Honey restaurant in Harlan, Iowa.

@austinfrerick.bsky.social's @islandpress.bsky.social Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry out in paperback soon in Europe!

Buy from your local bookseller or direct @ipsuk.bsky.social!