Sarah Frey

Sarah Frey is a farmer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author recognized for her leadership in the agriculture industry. Frey is the founder and CEO of Frey Farms, a Certified Woman-Owned Agribusiness and one of the largest fruit and vegetable producers in the United States. Frey Farms is known as the nation's largest producer of fresh pumpkins, with watermelons as its top commodity. The company distributes 200 million servings of fresh produce annually across the U.S. through more than 200 cold-chain distribution centers and 35,000 retail grocery and foodservice locations.

The youngest of 21 children, Frey grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois. At 15, she launched a fresh produce delivery business and, two years later, took over the family farm, expanding its reach to major grocery retailers. As a teenager, Frey grew her mother's summer produce delivery route from 12 independent grocery stores to over 150, helping to sustain the family business. She managed her company while attending high school and college, and at 19, secured a pivotal contract with Walmart that contributed to the farm's national growth. Harvard Business School featured one of her early business deals as a negotiation case study.

Frey oversees operations spanning farming, land acquisition, regenerative agriculture, raw ingredient manufacturing, and a vertically integrated beverage business. She developed "Tsamma," the first bottled, nationally distributed watermelon juice in the U.S., and founded the beverage line "Sarah's Homegrown," which focuses on upcycling produce that cannot be sold in retail stores. Frey serves on several industry association boards, including United Fresh Produce Association and the National Watermelon Promotion Board. She is also a board member of FMI, The Food Industry Association, which advocates for the retail grocery sector and the consumer food supply chain.

Frey is the author of the bestselling memoir "The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life — and Saved an American Farm." The book details her journey from rural poverty to leading a multi-state agricultural business. She is also Co-Executive Producer of an ABC television series based on her life, titled "The Growing Season." Frey has been considered for national leadership roles in agriculture and is a keynote speaker, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, and operations within the agriculture and food industries.