Sarah Frey

Sarah Frey is the founder and CEO of Frey Farms, an Agribusiness headquartered in South Florida. Sarah oversees the diverse operations of the Frey family of companies including land acquisition, regenerative agriculture initiatives, raw ingredient manufacturing, and a fully integrated beverage business. Spanning seven states, Frey Farms is a leading U.S. grower, shipper, and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables and is best known as America’s largest producer of fresh watermelons and pumpkins.

As a teenager, Sarah fearlessly expanded her mother’s summer produce delivery route and expanded it from 12 independent grocery stores to over 150, a feat that saved her family’s struggling small farm. She defied rural poverty, running her full-time business while simultaneously attending high school and college. At age 19, Sarah’s negotiation with Wal-Mart, securing fresh produce contracts, was a turning point that led to expansive growth into national retail. Her business negotiation strategies became the subject of a Harvard Business case study.

Sarah’s four older brothers returned to the farm and joined her in growing the business. Today, the Frey Family proudly feeds America 200 million servings of fresh produce annually.

Distributed across the U.S. from over 200 cold-chain distribution centers and 35,000 retail grocery and foodservice locations. Her entrepreneurial ventures led to the development and production of Tsamma, America’s first bottled, nationally distributed watermelon juice. Penguin Random House published Sarah’s best-selling book, The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life and Saved an American Farm. Sarah also serves as co-executive producer of the optioned film rights to The Growing Season. In 2024, Sarah was on the short list to be considered for President Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture.

Frey serves on the board of FMI, The Food Industry Association, which advocates for the retail grocery industry to advance a safer, healthier, and more efficient consumer food supply chain. Frey has held industry appointments by both Democratic and Republican administrations. She has been highlighted as one of the most influential women in agriculture, serving in bipartisan Ag Advisory roles for multiple members of the US Congress. Frey is the largest employer of H2A. A highly skilled and persuasive communicator, Sarah has provided congressional testimony on key issues affecting the US food supply including Ag worker and guest worker reform.

Frey is an appointed Advisor of the NCAC, U.S. Representative and House Committee on Agriculture Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson’s National Agriculture Advisory Council. Sarah provides the Committee with fruit and vegetable commodity-specific expertise to inform agriculture policy and strategy on the upcoming Farm Bill.

Sarah is a passionate advocate for better health initiatives, nutrition policies, and economic opportunities for underserved rural communities. Frey Farms proudly partners with Feeding America®, and actively working to improve the lives of those in rural poverty. They provide financial support, professional college advisory assistance, and internships to students interested in pursuing higher education in business and agriculture, demonstrating their commitment to the future of these communities.

Sarah attributes her American success story to humble beginnings, hard work, and strong family bonds.