Austin Frerick
@austinfrerick.bsky.social
Wrote - Barons. Currently Yale. Formerly US Treasury/CRS. #firstgen 🌽🐷🏳️🌈
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
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
November 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
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
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).
Honored to have won the best “Food Issues” book from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).
November 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
“You’re a winner, baby!” 🥳😜
Honored to have won the best “Food Issues” book from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).
Honored to have won the best “Food Issues” book from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).
Upcoming Talk! More info: cpree.princeton.edu/events/2025/...
October 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Upcoming Talk! More info: cpree.princeton.edu/events/2025/...
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.
September 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
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.
September 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Catch me later this week if you're in the Bay Area.
The League of Women Voters made a special drink for my last paperback book event 🥳🥹
September 10, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The League of Women Voters made a special drink for my last paperback book event 🥳🥹
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
Special thanks to the Iowa Center for the Book, Dog·Eared Books, League of Women Voters, and the Ames Public Library
August 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
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
Special thanks to the Iowa Center for the Book, Dog·Eared Books, League of Women Voters, and the Ames Public Library
Exciting news -- I'll be back on the road later this week bopping around Iowa for the expanded paperback release of Barons.
I'd love to see yah if you're in the area 🚗📚
I'd love to see yah if you're in the area 🚗📚
August 25, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Exciting news -- I'll be back on the road later this week bopping around Iowa for the expanded paperback release of Barons.
I'd love to see yah if you're in the area 🚗📚
I'd love to see yah if you're in the area 🚗📚
Special thanks to the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and Republican Senator Lois Kolkhorst for inviting me to present Barons at Texas State University and the Texas State Capitol (talk about timing).
August 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Special thanks to the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and Republican Senator Lois Kolkhorst for inviting me to present Barons at Texas State University and the Texas State Capitol (talk about timing).
New Review: Journal of Economic Literature
“Explores how a series of powerful actors in the American food industry built their empires by taking advantage of deregulation and promoting a radical laissez-faire ideology, highlighting the effects on workers, families, and communities.”
“Explores how a series of powerful actors in the American food industry built their empires by taking advantage of deregulation and promoting a radical laissez-faire ideology, highlighting the effects on workers, families, and communities.”
August 2, 2025 at 12:37 PM
New Review: Journal of Economic Literature
“Explores how a series of powerful actors in the American food industry built their empires by taking advantage of deregulation and promoting a radical laissez-faire ideology, highlighting the effects on workers, families, and communities.”
“Explores how a series of powerful actors in the American food industry built their empires by taking advantage of deregulation and promoting a radical laissez-faire ideology, highlighting the effects on workers, families, and communities.”
How it started: The 1996 Farm Bill and 2005 Renewable Fuel Standard offered more subsidies for corn and created artificial demand for it through federal ethanol blending mandates, Frerick says.
That's resulted in an overproduction of corn.
That's resulted in an overproduction of corn.
July 30, 2025 at 2:08 PM
How it started: The 1996 Farm Bill and 2005 Renewable Fuel Standard offered more subsidies for corn and created artificial demand for it through federal ethanol blending mandates, Frerick says.
That's resulted in an overproduction of corn.
That's resulted in an overproduction of corn.
July 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Honored to have presented Barons and keynoted at the R_CALF National Convention earlier this month in Deadwood, South Dakota 🐂🇺🇸
I can't stress this enough -- addressing the concentration crisis in America's meat markets is one of the most bipartisan issues right now.
I can't stress this enough -- addressing the concentration crisis in America's meat markets is one of the most bipartisan issues right now.
June 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Honored to have presented Barons and keynoted at the R_CALF National Convention earlier this month in Deadwood, South Dakota 🐂🇺🇸
I can't stress this enough -- addressing the concentration crisis in America's meat markets is one of the most bipartisan issues right now.
I can't stress this enough -- addressing the concentration crisis in America's meat markets is one of the most bipartisan issues right now.
It felt fitting to do a book event for my expanded paperback edition in Harlan, IA. Ellen and Milk & Honey play a big role in the book’s new chapter, which profiles Sysco as my Distribution Baron.
Join us if you're in the area for a great meal and a lovely time.
More events to come.
Join us if you're in the area for a great meal and a lovely time.
More events to come.
June 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
It felt fitting to do a book event for my expanded paperback edition in Harlan, IA. Ellen and Milk & Honey play a big role in the book’s new chapter, which profiles Sysco as my Distribution Baron.
Join us if you're in the area for a great meal and a lovely time.
More events to come.
Join us if you're in the area for a great meal and a lovely time.
More events to come.
Special thanks to the worker-owned cooperative Equal Exchange for letting me keynote and present Barons at their annual Summit.
Such an honor to such a cool org.
Such an honor to such a cool org.
June 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Special thanks to the worker-owned cooperative Equal Exchange for letting me keynote and present Barons at their annual Summit.
Such an honor to such a cool org.
Such an honor to such a cool org.
And Americans already have some of the highest in the world.
June 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
And Americans already have some of the highest in the world.
What an experience yesterday to walk the red carpet at the premier of The Price of Milk, a docuseries hopefully coming soon to a streamer near you.
It was such an honor to be in it and talk about my Dairy Baron 🥳🐮
It was such an honor to be in it and talk about my Dairy Baron 🥳🐮
June 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
What an experience yesterday to walk the red carpet at the premier of The Price of Milk, a docuseries hopefully coming soon to a streamer near you.
It was such an honor to be in it and talk about my Dairy Baron 🥳🐮
It was such an honor to be in it and talk about my Dairy Baron 🥳🐮
Special thanks to David Murray and Jacqueline Bond for making this expansion possible and to Whiterock Conservancy and Oneota Valley Literary Foundation for letting me be a writer in residence. I wrote a good portion of this new chapter in Coon Rapids and Decorah, Iowa.
(from a run at WC)
(from a run at WC)
June 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Special thanks to David Murray and Jacqueline Bond for making this expansion possible and to Whiterock Conservancy and Oneota Valley Literary Foundation for letting me be a writer in residence. I wrote a good portion of this new chapter in Coon Rapids and Decorah, Iowa.
(from a run at WC)
(from a run at WC)
I've got exciting news to share. The paperback version of Barons will be published on Sept 2! And better yet, it’s an expanded edition w/a new chapter.
In the new chapter, I explore the history of Sysco - my Distribution Barons - the largest global food distributor for eating out.
In the new chapter, I explore the history of Sysco - my Distribution Barons - the largest global food distributor for eating out.
June 2, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I've got exciting news to share. The paperback version of Barons will be published on Sept 2! And better yet, it’s an expanded edition w/a new chapter.
In the new chapter, I explore the history of Sysco - my Distribution Barons - the largest global food distributor for eating out.
In the new chapter, I explore the history of Sysco - my Distribution Barons - the largest global food distributor for eating out.
For context, Vilsack's family would personally stand to benefit immensely from this briefing document.
See this @tomphilpott.bsky.social piece: https://
www.motherjones.com/food/2022/01...
See this @tomphilpott.bsky.social piece: https://
www.motherjones.com/food/2022/01...
June 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
For context, Vilsack's family would personally stand to benefit immensely from this briefing document.
See this @tomphilpott.bsky.social piece: https://
www.motherjones.com/food/2022/01...
See this @tomphilpott.bsky.social piece: https://
www.motherjones.com/food/2022/01...
summer reading stack 🤓🙃
May 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
summer reading stack 🤓🙃
From my chapter on the secret owners of: Panera, Keurig, Peet’s, Caribou Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Bruegger’s, Manhattan Bagel, Noah’s Bagels, Krispy Kreme, Pret A Manger, Insomnia Cookies, Stumptown, La Colombe, Intelligentsia, & Green Mountain.
May 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
From my chapter on the secret owners of: Panera, Keurig, Peet’s, Caribou Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Bruegger’s, Manhattan Bagel, Noah’s Bagels, Krispy Kreme, Pret A Manger, Insomnia Cookies, Stumptown, La Colombe, Intelligentsia, & Green Mountain.
Special thanks to Middlebury, Dartmouth, and Vermont Law School for hosting me this week to talk Barons.
PS Always happy to indulge in a Vermont icon: creemees (maple soft serve)
PS Always happy to indulge in a Vermont icon: creemees (maple soft serve)
April 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Special thanks to Middlebury, Dartmouth, and Vermont Law School for hosting me this week to talk Barons.
PS Always happy to indulge in a Vermont icon: creemees (maple soft serve)
PS Always happy to indulge in a Vermont icon: creemees (maple soft serve)