Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry
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- Create Date：2024-03-27 06:20:33
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Austin Frerick
- ISBN：1642832693
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Summary
Barons is the story of seven corporate titans， their rise to power， and the consequences for everyone else。 Take Mike McCloskey， Chairman of Fair Oaks Farms。 In a few short decades， he went from managing a modest dairy herd to running the Disneyland of agriculture， where school children ride trams through mechanized warehouses filled with tens of thousands of cows that never see the light of day。 What was the key to his success？ Hard work and exceptional business savvy？ Maybe。 But more than anything else， Mike benefitted from deregulation of the American food industry， a phenomenon that has consolidated wealth in the hands of select tycoons， and along the way， hollowed out the nation’s rural towns and local businesses。
Along with Mike McCloskey， readers will meet a secretive German family that took over the global coffee industry in less than a decade， relying on wealth traced back to the Nazis to gobble up countless independent roasters。 They will discover how a small grain business transformed itself into an empire bigger than Koch Industries， with ample help from taxpayer dollars。 And they will learn that in the food business， crime really does pay—especially when you can bribe and then double-cross the president of Brazil。
These， and the other stories in this book， are simply examples of the monopolies and ubiquitous corruption that today define American food。 The tycoons profiled in these pages are hardly unique: many other companies have manipulated our lax laws and failed policies for their own benefit， to the detriment of our neighborhoods， livelihoods， and our democracy itself。 Barons paints a stark portrait of the consequences of corporate consolidation， but it also shows we can choose a different path。 A fair， healthy， and prosperous food industry is possible—if we take back power from the barons who have robbed us of it。
Along with Mike McCloskey， readers will meet a secretive German family that took over the global coffee industry in less than a decade， relying on wealth traced back to the Nazis to gobble up countless independent roasters。 They will discover how a small grain business transformed itself into an empire bigger than Koch Industries， with ample help from taxpayer dollars。 And they will learn that in the food business， crime really does pay—especially when you can bribe and then double-cross the president of Brazil。
These， and the other stories in this book， are simply examples of the monopolies and ubiquitous corruption that today define American food。 The tycoons profiled in these pages are hardly unique: many other companies have manipulated our lax laws and failed policies for their own benefit， to the detriment of our neighborhoods， livelihoods， and our democracy itself。 Barons paints a stark portrait of the consequences of corporate consolidation， but it also shows we can choose a different path。 A fair， healthy， and prosperous food industry is possible—if we take back power from the barons who have robbed us of it。
Reviews
Lauren
，
This book uncovers the dark side of the food industry and sheds light on where your food is actually coming from。 That "local" yogurt you buy for $10 hoping that it's coming from happy cows roaming on their local pastures？ The milk is probably coming from one of the 3% of "farms" （read warehouses） that supplies America with more than half of its dairy。 Frerick weaves a story that combines narrative and investigative journalism with public policy。 He looks at failures in the food industry and ide This book uncovers the dark side of the food industry and sheds light on where your food is actually coming from。 That "local" yogurt you buy for $10 hoping that it's coming from happy cows roaming on their local pastures？ The milk is probably coming from one of the 3% of "farms" （read warehouses） that supplies America with more than half of its dairy。 Frerick weaves a story that combines narrative and investigative journalism with public policy。 He looks at failures in the food industry and identifies policy priorities that could rectify some of these issues and lead to a better food system for farmers， workers， animals， and consumers。 。。。more
olivia farrell
，
I was pleasantly surprised to discover this well researched book is a page turner as well as a must read。 When the book arrived， I opened it up to just glance through it。 I didn't look up for 45 minutes。 Frerick is not just an expert on this extremely important topic; fortunately， he's a riveting storyteller making this book an engrossing read。For some time now， the US has been feeling more and more like the Gilded Age of the 19th and early 20th centuries when wildly successful industrialists em I was pleasantly surprised to discover this well researched book is a page turner as well as a must read。 When the book arrived， I opened it up to just glance through it。 I didn't look up for 45 minutes。 Frerick is not just an expert on this extremely important topic; fortunately， he's a riveting storyteller making this book an engrossing read。For some time now， the US has been feeling more and more like the Gilded Age of the 19th and early 20th centuries when wildly successful industrialists employed ruthless and/or unethical business practices that made them ridiculously wealthy at the expense of the rest of us。 I mistakenly thought that we were secure from those practices after the major reforms put in place at the turn of the last century。 Frerick's book demonstrates the easy return of the Robber Barons and the price you and I must pay for their greed， not just with our money， but in health， culture， and environment。 I don't understand why companies don't care about these things as if their grandchildren will not inherit the consequences。As Robert Kenner said， "Austin Frerick’s Barons tells a darkly fascinating story about our food system。 With startling accounts of corporate behemoths and the regulatory failures that allowed them to amass unchecked power， destroying the family farm and the rural heartland along the way。 Frerick makes an urgent case to structure our markets to protect our environment， our health and ultimately our democracy。"This has definitely been the best book I've read this year。。。 and the most important。 。。。more
Suzette Jensen
，
“BARONS” is an intense look at the reality of unfettered agribusiness and what it has done to our water， our air quality， our land， our rural communities and the quality of our food supply。 A well resourced and documented book， “Barons” provides an exploration of how farming has been co-opted by huge Ag conglomerates that destroy small towns， devour family farms and follow labor practices that contribute to poverty in America。 Throughout the book， the complicity， wittingly or unwittingly， of our “BARONS” is an intense look at the reality of unfettered agribusiness and what it has done to our water， our air quality， our land， our rural communities and the quality of our food supply。 A well resourced and documented book， “Barons” provides an exploration of how farming has been co-opted by huge Ag conglomerates that destroy small towns， devour family farms and follow labor practices that contribute to poverty in America。 Throughout the book， the complicity， wittingly or unwittingly， of our governments， （local， state and federal） is exposed。 The abuse and exploitation of our laws and farm programs that are designed to help the family farmers is deplorable 。。。more
Jonas Wipf
，
The American food industry is shaped by unseen forces that are often overlooked。 "Barons" is a riveting exploration of monopolies， corruption， corporate dominance， consolidation， and untold stories that have far-reaching consequences。 Austin Frerick's meticulous research and compelling storytelling unveil the rise of corporate titans and the impact of their actions。 This book is a must-read for those who seek to understand the hidden powers that shape the food industry。 The American food industry is shaped by unseen forces that are often overlooked。 "Barons" is a riveting exploration of monopolies， corruption， corporate dominance， consolidation， and untold stories that have far-reaching consequences。 Austin Frerick's meticulous research and compelling storytelling unveil the rise of corporate titans and the impact of their actions。 This book is a must-read for those who seek to understand the hidden powers that shape the food industry。 。。。more
Linda Craddick
，
Barons by Austin Frerick takes a deep dive into the food industry in America。 Where does your food come from？ What are the conditions of the animals and people involved， and who is profiting from their horrific conditions？ Where did these megacompanies get their start， and what politicians helped them along the way？ It will surprise you。 A must-read for those who care about corruption， politics， and power and what it has done to the family farm， small business， and the literal landscape of our c Barons by Austin Frerick takes a deep dive into the food industry in America。 Where does your food come from？ What are the conditions of the animals and people involved， and who is profiting from their horrific conditions？ Where did these megacompanies get their start， and what politicians helped them along the way？ It will surprise you。 A must-read for those who care about corruption， politics， and power and what it has done to the family farm， small business， and the literal landscape of our country。 A fantastic read！ 。。。more
Katie
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I grew up outside of Eldora， IA， near Pine Lake State Park， which is the first place the author writes about。 My dad worked for Iowa Select for a year after our family farm went under。 This book speaks volumes of truth。 The water in Pine Lake is so bad， and it makes me sad that my kids can't enjoy it like I used to when I was young。 Iowa Select has ruined Iowa in my opinion。 When I go home to visit family， all I can smell is pig manure everywhere I go， thanks to the high concentration of factory I grew up outside of Eldora， IA， near Pine Lake State Park， which is the first place the author writes about。 My dad worked for Iowa Select for a year after our family farm went under。 This book speaks volumes of truth。 The water in Pine Lake is so bad， and it makes me sad that my kids can't enjoy it like I used to when I was young。 Iowa Select has ruined Iowa in my opinion。 When I go home to visit family， all I can smell is pig manure everywhere I go， thanks to the high concentration of factory pig barns。 The rest of this book is also so eye-opening， everyone should read it！ I feel like there could be an entire book about each baron， individually！ Thank you for writing this book， and thank you for the ARC！ 。。。more
David Dayen
，
Frerick， a former Treasury official， divides the concentration of our food system up into a study of several specific monopolists， from the JBS meatpacking company to the practically unknown JAB coffee conglomerate to Walmart's grocery operation。 Generally this close read works。 I've written the book on this and I still learned a lot。 Frerick， a former Treasury official， divides the concentration of our food system up into a study of several specific monopolists， from the JBS meatpacking company to the practically unknown JAB coffee conglomerate to Walmart's grocery operation。 Generally this close read works。 I've written the book on this and I still learned a lot。 。。。more
Wisconsin Alumni
，
Austin Frerick MPA’14AuthorFrom the author:Barons is the story of seven titans of the food industry， their rise to power， and the consequences for workers， eaters， and democracy itself。 Readers will meet a secretive German family that took over the global coffee industry in less than a decade， relying on wealth traced back to the Nazis to gobble up countless independent roasters。 They will visit the Disneyland of agriculture， where school children ride trams through mechanized warehouses filled Austin Frerick MPA’14AuthorFrom the author:Barons is the story of seven titans of the food industry， their rise to power， and the consequences for workers， eaters， and democracy itself。 Readers will meet a secretive German family that took over the global coffee industry in less than a decade， relying on wealth traced back to the Nazis to gobble up countless independent roasters。 They will visit the Disneyland of agriculture， where school children ride trams through mechanized warehouses filled with tens of thousands of cows that never see the light of day。 And they will learn that in the food business， crime really does pay—especially when you can bribe and then double-cross the president of Brazil。 Barons paints a stark portrait of corporate consolidation， but it also shows that a fair， healthy， and prosperous food industry is possible—if we take back power from the barons who have robbed us of it。 。。。more
Tina
，
This is one of three books that I will always have on my bookshelves as not only as a reminder of where food comes from， but also as a reference book。 This story follows the rise of seven major food brokers/producers and how they became financially successful because of their exploitation of workers， laws， and the eating habits of manipulated consumers。 What are we eating？ Where did it come from？ At what cost to others and to our health？ What price are we paying for convenience and at the same t This is one of three books that I will always have on my bookshelves as not only as a reminder of where food comes from， but also as a reference book。 This story follows the rise of seven major food brokers/producers and how they became financially successful because of their exploitation of workers， laws， and the eating habits of manipulated consumers。 What are we eating？ Where did it come from？ At what cost to others and to our health？ What price are we paying for convenience and at the same time， unknown health problems？ Who， exactly， are we supporting with our purchases？This well written book is not a simple muckraking exposure， but a well researched book that gives warning and information to us about what we are doing to our bodies， and to each other unknowingly。Author Frerick shows his expertise in agriculture and antitrust policy by weaving the intricacies and histories of both to paint a compelling picture of how we are getting it wrong in our food industry。 。。。more
RedReviews4You
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This was an insightful read that sparked many great conversations with family and friends。 Written in a wonderfully readable and engaging style that shares so much information wile being reader friendly， I had the best of both worlds the information and depth of a New Yorker， Atlantic， or Harper's article with the accessibility of mass trade paperback。 I won this via a Goodreads giveaway， but I would have bought this at my local bookstore without a second thought。 If you want to understand how o This was an insightful read that sparked many great conversations with family and friends。 Written in a wonderfully readable and engaging style that shares so much information wile being reader friendly， I had the best of both worlds the information and depth of a New Yorker， Atlantic， or Harper's article with the accessibility of mass trade paperback。 I won this via a Goodreads giveaway， but I would have bought this at my local bookstore without a second thought。 If you want to understand how our food culture came to be the way it is and even how out tastes and food traditions formed who we are this is a book for you。 But， most importantly if you want to see how food has shaped global economics and international politics you can't beat this book。 。。。more
Reader
，
This is a book sure to start many dinner table conversations。 Buy a copy for yourself， for a friend， for someone in your family。 Barons shines in its readable prose。 This is weighty material for sure and it could easilybe too academic。 But it is written as if you were in conversation with Austin Frerickhimself while walking the aisles of your local grocery store。 In doing so， the book illuminates the real faces of industries we thought we knew。 Those independent-soundingcoffee brands that are ‘f This is a book sure to start many dinner table conversations。 Buy a copy for yourself， for a friend， for someone in your family。 Barons shines in its readable prose。 This is weighty material for sure and it could easilybe too academic。 But it is written as if you were in conversation with Austin Frerickhimself while walking the aisles of your local grocery store。 In doing so， the book illuminates the real faces of industries we thought we knew。 Those independent-soundingcoffee brands that are ‘from’ specific cities across the country？ Well， many of them areowned by the same conglomerate。 That yoghurt brand that seems local and friendly？It could actually be a subsidiary of a large foreign corporation。That this should worry you is not simply taken for granted。 The author shows why theseownership structures and the concentration of corporate power in food is harmful—notjust to idealistic notions of small farms and local businesses but to the welfare ofworkers， livestock， and the environment。 This stuff matters and Barons helps you seewhy。 As you embark on the book’s conclusion， you’ll be left wondering how we can right the ship。Fortunately， the author has a recipe list of concrete actions our government can take to start the journey back to a better place。 It’s a hopeful and inspiring note to end on。Barons is an accessible， informative， and troubling story of economic power run amok inthe American food system， and a call to action to turn things around。 You might never look at a carton of milk the same way again。 。。。more
Kody Craddick
，
Barons is a unique and captivating take on the consolidation happening in US food markets。 Frerick does not hold back in his assessment of the current regulatory framework and the political actors that have undermined competition across core sectors of the American marketplace。 He does this， in part， by writing about the consequences consolidation has brought on his home state of Iowa。 The rapid rise of consolidation that Frerick details shocked me as a reader， furthered by the fact the many of Barons is a unique and captivating take on the consolidation happening in US food markets。 Frerick does not hold back in his assessment of the current regulatory framework and the political actors that have undermined competition across core sectors of the American marketplace。 He does this， in part， by writing about the consequences consolidation has brought on his home state of Iowa。 The rapid rise of consolidation that Frerick details shocked me as a reader， furthered by the fact the many of the "barons" he writes about are relatively unknown in the public eye。 He approaches antitrust reform with realism and is a refreshing voice in this subject area - a must read。 。。。more
Chave
，
I received a free copy of this book through a GoodReads giveaway。 This is a very important book for anybody interested in how our food system works and why our whole food industry has changed so drastically in the last decade。This book is only the tip of the iceberg but it's very important that people read and familiarize themselves with what's going on。 I would suggest for anybody who has an open mind and is willing to learn to read this book。 I received a free copy of this book through a GoodReads giveaway。 This is a very important book for anybody interested in how our food system works and why our whole food industry has changed so drastically in the last decade。This book is only the tip of the iceberg but it's very important that people read and familiarize themselves with what's going on。 I would suggest for anybody who has an open mind and is willing to learn to read this book。 。。。more
Stacy Becker
，
This is one of the more disturbing books I’ve read。 With knowledge of both agriculture and antitrust， Frerick is perfectly positioned to narrate the corruption of America’s food industry and the incentives that have contributed to it。He uses the example of seven powerful companies - some of which are familiar （e。g。 Walmart） and others less so （JAB Holdings） to make his point。 There are stories of devastating environmental degradation， examples of large companies earning brownie points and fundin This is one of the more disturbing books I’ve read。 With knowledge of both agriculture and antitrust， Frerick is perfectly positioned to narrate the corruption of America’s food industry and the incentives that have contributed to it。He uses the example of seven powerful companies - some of which are familiar （e。g。 Walmart） and others less so （JAB Holdings） to make his point。 There are stories of devastating environmental degradation， examples of large companies earning brownie points and funding for ‘solving’ the very problems they help create， and generally just really clear exposition of the concentration of the agricultural industry。How did we wind up at the point where one or two companies dominates grocery sales？ Or milk production？ It didn’t have to be that way， and Frerick clearly explains the decisions that have led to it — and the resulting impact。You want look at a basket of strawberries， or a grain elevator， or a coffee shop， the same way again。 。。。more
Lynda Honberg
，
I just finished reading Barons and found it to be a very powerful and thought provoking book。 Austin is a great writer who has taken a very complex subject and made it very readable。 Each chapter highlights a baron of the food industry while weaving in historical， economic and legal facts with personal observations。 I especially liked his discussion on how these barons are impacting not only our food industry， but also our environment， public health， politics and other aspects of American life。 I just finished reading Barons and found it to be a very powerful and thought provoking book。 Austin is a great writer who has taken a very complex subject and made it very readable。 Each chapter highlights a baron of the food industry while weaving in historical， economic and legal facts with personal observations。 I especially liked his discussion on how these barons are impacting not only our food industry， but also our environment， public health， politics and other aspects of American life。 I think you’ll agree that this is a riveting book that’s hard to put down。 。。。more
Tyler
，
I found this to be a riveting account of the American food industry。 Essential reading for 2024。 Frerick seamlessly incorporates his personal narrative to reveal why corporate consolidation has the led the American food system astray。 More importantly， he concludes by explaining what can be done to bring about change。 I could easily see this leading to a sequel and would make a great mini series highlighting each of the personas in the book。 I found the non-partisan stance refreshing （and rare） I found this to be a riveting account of the American food industry。 Essential reading for 2024。 Frerick seamlessly incorporates his personal narrative to reveal why corporate consolidation has the led the American food system astray。 More importantly， he concludes by explaining what can be done to bring about change。 I could easily see this leading to a sequel and would make a great mini series highlighting each of the personas in the book。 I found the non-partisan stance refreshing （and rare） in today's environment。 Highly recommend。 。。。more
Kyle
，
Received this book free as an advanced copy and as part of a giveaway contest。 I would have gladly paid for this book。 It's an outstanding read highlighting notable individuals and families in the food industry。 Only complaint I have is that it wasn't long enough。 Hopefully， Austin Frerick writes a sequel！ Received this book free as an advanced copy and as part of a giveaway contest。 I would have gladly paid for this book。 It's an outstanding read highlighting notable individuals and families in the food industry。 Only complaint I have is that it wasn't long enough。 Hopefully， Austin Frerick writes a sequel！ 。。。more
Andrew F
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Straightforward， detailed account on the current state of our food industry; how we got here and what we need to do now， a must read for 2024。
Robin Jo
，
Enjoyed reading this， fascinating stories of things I would have never thought about going on in the food industry。 Riveting account。
Tag
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barons money power and the corruption of america's food industry