John Frydenlund Food and Agriculture Policy Director

Since 1997, John Frydenlund has directed CAGW’s Center for International Food and Agriculture Policy, where he has been one of the premier public policy advocates for free market reforms to U.S. agriculture policy and freer international trade.  Through Frydenlund’s writings, public speeches and testimony before the U.S. Congress, he has been instrumental in building coalitions supporting reform of farm policy during the debate of the 2002 and 2007 farm bills.

Prior to joining CAGW, Frydenlund directed The Heritage Foundation’s Agriculture Policy Project during the 1996 farm bill, an effort that led to some of the most significant reforms of farm policy in decades.

Frydenlund served as Director of Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under Secretary Richard Lyng and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Inspection Services under Secretary Clayton Yeutter.

A 1973 graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A., Political Science), Frydenlund served as Mayor of Hayward, Minnesota and as Deputy Director of the Reagan for President campaign in Minnesota before joining USDA.

Frydenlund resides in Floodwood, Minnesota with his wife, Jane.  They have one daughter, Mary Ellen.