The Growing Season

How I Built a New Life - and Saved an American Farm

By: Sarah Frey

Narrated by: Sarah Frey

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

“A gutsy success story” (The New York Times Book Review) about one tenacious woman’s journey to escape rural poverty and create a billion-dollar farming business - without ever leaving the land she loves

The youngest of her parents’ combined 21 children, Sarah Frey grew up on a struggling farm in southern Illinois, often having to grow, catch, or hunt her own dinner alongside her brothers. She spent much of her early childhood dreaming of running away to the big city - or really anywhere with central heating. At 15, she moved out of her family home and started her own fresh produce delivery business with nothing more than an old pickup truck.

Two years later, when the family farm faced inevitable foreclosure, Frey gave up on her dreams of escape, took over the farm, and created her own produce company. Refusing to play by traditional rules, at 17 she began talking her way into suit-filled boardrooms, making deals with the nation’s largest retailers. Her early negotiations became so legendary that Harvard Business School published some of her deals as case studies, which have turned out to be favorites among its students.

Today, her family-operated company, Frey Farms, has become one of America’s largest fresh produce growers and shippers, with farmland spread across seven states. Thanks to the millions of melons and pumpkins she sells annually, Frey has been dubbed “America’s Pumpkin Queen” by the national press.

The Growing Season tells the inspiring story of how a scrappy rural childhood gave Frey the grit and resiliency to take risks that paid off in unexpected ways. Rather than leaving her community, she found adventure and opportunity in one of the most forgotten parts of our country. With fearlessness and creativity, she literally dug her destiny out of the dirt.

©2020 Sarah Frey (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"“Riveting . . . Intensely memorable . . . Persistence, candor, and confidence are at the heart of all [Sarah Frey’s] interactions, whether it’s talking her way into a meeting with a reluctant fruit seller or confronting a bank that mistreats her Mexican seasonal workers.”—The Boston Globe

“Through tragedies and setbacks, Frey has remained resolute and devoted to her business and family. Her charisma and chutzpah leap off the page.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“A remarkable story about perseverance and innovation.”—Forbes

Inspiring Story

An inspiring story of hard work self empowerment and a commitment to family and to hard honest work. A true American success story.

Outstanding.

Brutally honest about the power of hardwork and resilience and what it looks like.

Insightful and inspiring

Insightful view of family, farm life and choices in a path to the future. To me, narrator (author) sounds like Julia Roberts. Grocery store experience has changed for me seeing it from the eyes of a farm family.

One of the best stories I have read in awhile.

Sarah’s story is amazing. There are many young women that are sadly not given the opportunity to excel. She details an inspiring chronicle of her success in another industry that society has created common and unreasonable blockages. The performance is also very well done, and I could feel the experience she was going through simply by her presentation. Well done on all counts.

Small town Farm girl; Humble means, and Huge vision

What a ride listening to this book was for me- I chuckled aloud so many times at how she described so many things about growing up a farm girl, and also had tears streaming down my face in several parts. What I can tell you is, you will NOT be disappointed in this riveting book. I have so much respect for her and must say to ANYONE, Male or female who is trying to find inspiration in their passion projects or even following a dream, do not delay.
Women, you need to read this, have your teen girls also listen. Her willingness to tell her personal story with such humor and unflinching honesty will most certainly move you and reaffirm that there are special people that make the world better just for being here.

Amazingly Beautiful!

Loved everything about this story! The honesty, transparency, and resiliency of Sarah is what made her story even sweeter…literally!

Lovely.

It was a sweet and inspiring story. Read well, nicely written. I would recommend to anyone who is self employed,
who loves food, and who is connected to nature.

Inspirational

A story that any woman will find inspirational, and hopefully, quite a few men as well. I don't think anyone can argue the fact that Sarah Frey is an impressive woman. I'm a fan for life.

i am so thankful to hear your story

i am so thankful that people like you exist. i could not help think of Dagney Taggard from Atlas Shrugged when I saw how driven, hard working and effective you are. You are a force for good and I thank God that personification is not limited to idealist fiction. Thank you for being you

Well written and narrated

This was a feel good story about how this young woman overcame adversity by not allowing other's ideas or opinions hold her back.

She also provides excellent insight on raising children with self confidence who aren't afraid to think for themselves and accept the consequences, both good and bad, for their actions.

I highly recommend it.