About
Who are we?
Affordable Food for All (AFFA) is a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. We are dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. We are committed to animal safety standards and hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. We are concerned that recent state-led initiatives interfere with the federal regulatory framework and may cause chaos in the supply chain. Our goal is to create nationwide standards to ensure consistency and certainty in the marketplace.
What do we stand for?
We are committed to ensuring that there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide.
We are committed to ensuring that appropriate policies are established to ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between!
We believe that any reforms to the pork industry, or other food industries, must be done in coordination and with the support of stakeholders.
Board of Directors
A subject matter expert with over 30 years of extensive experience in the agri-food industry. Sourcing protein globally and throughout North America. Joe oversees the protein category for the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization and second largest U.S. charity. Ensuring access to protein for a balanced nutritional diet for the more than 38 million people served by the Feeding America network.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 agencies and meal programs. Together, the Feeding America network provides more than 6 billion meals annually to more than 38 million people across the United States and supports programs that improve food security for the families it serves.
In addition to his role at Feeding America, Joe sits on the board of directors of Affordable Food for All, a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. Dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. Committed to animal safety standards and the highest professional standards.
Prior to joining Feeding America, Joe was the Strategic Global Commodity Sourcing Manager of Protein for Carnival Corporation where, he managed the protein category for the largest cruise line company in the world.
Joe is a graduate of Sheridan College in Canada where he obtained his BBA. Joe is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. He resides in Miami, Florida.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 agencies and meal programs. Together, the Feeding America network provides more than 6 billion meals annually to more than 38 million people across the United States and supports programs that improve food security for the families it serves.
In addition to his role at Feeding America, Joe sits on the board of directors of Affordable Food for All, a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. Dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. Committed to animal safety standards and the highest professional standards.
Prior to joining Feeding America, Joe was the Strategic Global Commodity Sourcing Manager of Protein for Carnival Corporation where, he managed the protein category for the largest cruise line company in the world.
Joe is a graduate of Sheridan College in Canada where he obtained his BBA. Joe is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. He resides in Miami, Florida.
Joseph Weeden
Senior Director – Product Sourcing – Protein Feeding America
In his capacity as General Counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, Mr. Formica works before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal government on domestic matters, including environmental policy, tax reform, immigration policy, and production issues.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
Brittany Bailey
Sr. Manager, Pork Customer Marketing, Zoetis
Carmen Rottenberg is a leader in food safety and agriculture policy. Prior to launching Groundswell Strategy, Carmen served as Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, leading the ten-thousand-person agency charged with ensuring the safety of the nation’s meat, poultry and egg products. Over her thirteen years with USDA, Carmen held several leadership roles at the Department and was credited with spearheading key agency initiatives including modernizing food safety inspection systems and establishing and updating pathogen performance standards. Carmen has extensive experience achieving collaboration across federal, state, and municipal agencies including with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with state departments of agriculture and across USDA’s 29 agencies and offices.
Carmen began her federal career in the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of General Counsel and has experience working in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a Juris Doctor Degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Carmen began her federal career in the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of General Counsel and has experience working in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a Juris Doctor Degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Carmen Rottenberg
Managing Director, Groundswell Strategy
Michael Formica
General Counsel, National Pork Producers Council
In his capacity as General Counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, Mr. Formica works before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal government on domestic matters, including environmental policy, tax reform, immigration policy, and production issues.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
About
Who are we?
Affordable Food for All (AFFA) is a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. We are dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. We are committed to animal safety standards and hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. We are concerned that recent state-led initiatives interfere with the federal regulatory framework and may cause chaos in the supply chain. Our goal is to create nationwide standards to ensure consistency and certainty in the marketplace.
What do we stand for?
We are committed to ensuring that there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide.
We are committed to ensuring that appropriate policies are established to ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between!
We believe that any reforms to the pork industry, or other food industries, must be done in coordination and with the support of stakeholders.
About
Board of Directors
Joseph Weeden
Senior Director – Product Sourcing – Protein Feeding America
A subject matter expert with over 30 years of extensive experience in the agri-food industry. Sourcing protein globally and throughout North America. Joe oversees the protein category for the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization and second largest U.S. charity. Ensuring access to protein for a balanced nutritional diet for the more than 38 million people served by the Feeding America network.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 agencies and meal programs. Together, the Feeding America network provides more than 6 billion meals annually to more than 38 million people across the United States and supports programs that improve food security for the families it serves.
In addition to his role at Feeding America, Joe sits on the board of directors of Affordable Food for All, a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. Dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. Committed to animal safety standards and the highest professional standards.
Prior to joining Feeding America, Joe was the Strategic Global Commodity Sourcing Manager of Protein for Carnival Corporation where, he managed the protein category for the largest cruise line company in the world.
Joe is a graduate of Sheridan College in Canada where he obtained his BBA. Joe is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. He resides in Miami, Florida.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 agencies and meal programs. Together, the Feeding America network provides more than 6 billion meals annually to more than 38 million people across the United States and supports programs that improve food security for the families it serves.
In addition to his role at Feeding America, Joe sits on the board of directors of Affordable Food for All, a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. Dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. Committed to animal safety standards and the highest professional standards.
Prior to joining Feeding America, Joe was the Strategic Global Commodity Sourcing Manager of Protein for Carnival Corporation where, he managed the protein category for the largest cruise line company in the world.
Joe is a graduate of Sheridan College in Canada where he obtained his BBA. Joe is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. He resides in Miami, Florida.
Brittany Bailey
Sr. Manager, Pork Customer Marketing, Zoetis
In his capacity as General Counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, Mr. Formica works before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal government on domestic matters, including environmental policy, tax reform, immigration policy, and production issues.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
Carmen Rottenberg
Managing Director, Groundswell Strategy
Carmen Rottenberg is a leader in food safety and agriculture policy. Prior to launching Groundswell Strategy, Carmen served as Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, leading the ten-thousand-person agency charged with ensuring the safety of the nation’s meat, poultry and egg products. Over her thirteen years with USDA, Carmen held several leadership roles at the Department and was credited with spearheading key agency initiatives including modernizing food safety inspection systems and establishing and updating pathogen performance standards. Carmen has extensive experience achieving collaboration across federal, state, and municipal agencies including with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with state departments of agriculture and across USDA’s 29 agencies and offices.
Carmen began her federal career in the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of General Counsel and has experience working in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a Juris Doctor Degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Carmen began her federal career in the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of General Counsel and has experience working in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a Juris Doctor Degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Michael Formica
General Counsel, National Pork Producers Council
In his capacity as General Counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, Mr. Formica works before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal government on domestic matters, including environmental policy, tax reform, immigration policy, and production issues.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
Who are we?
Affordable Food for All (AFFA) is a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. We are dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. We are committed to animal safety standards and hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. We are concerned that recent state-led initiatives interfere with the federal regulatory framework and may cause chaos in the supply chain. Our goal is to create nationwide standards to ensure consistency and certainty in the marketplace.
What do we stand for?
We are committed to ensuring that there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide.
We are committed to ensuring that appropriate policies are established to ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between!
We believe that any reforms to the pork industry, or other food industries, must be done in coordination and with the support of stakeholders.
Board of Directors
Joseph Weeden
Senior Director – Product Sourcing – Protein Feeding America
A subject matter expert with over 30 years of extensive experience in the agri-food industry. Sourcing protein globally and throughout North America. Joe oversees the protein category for the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization and second largest U.S. charity. Ensuring access to protein for a balanced nutritional diet for the more than 38 million people served by the Feeding America network.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 agencies and meal programs. Together, the Feeding America network provides more than 6 billion meals annually to more than 38 million people across the United States and supports programs that improve food security for the families it serves.
In addition to his role at Feeding America, Joe sits on the board of directors of Affordable Food for All, a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. Dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. Committed to animal safety standards and the highest professional standards.
Prior to joining Feeding America, Joe was the Strategic Global Commodity Sourcing Manager of Protein for Carnival Corporation where, he managed the protein category for the largest cruise line company in the world.
Joe is a graduate of Sheridan College in Canada where he obtained his BBA. Joe is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. He resides in Miami, Florida.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 agencies and meal programs. Together, the Feeding America network provides more than 6 billion meals annually to more than 38 million people across the United States and supports programs that improve food security for the families it serves.
In addition to his role at Feeding America, Joe sits on the board of directors of Affordable Food for All, a diverse coalition of stakeholders working to ensure there is equitable access to safe and affordable food nationwide. Dedicated to ensuring there is continuity in the food supply chain and focused on promoting and advocating for policies that ensure the health and safety of farmers, consumers, and everyone in between. Committed to animal safety standards and the highest professional standards.
Prior to joining Feeding America, Joe was the Strategic Global Commodity Sourcing Manager of Protein for Carnival Corporation where, he managed the protein category for the largest cruise line company in the world.
Joe is a graduate of Sheridan College in Canada where he obtained his BBA. Joe is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. He resides in Miami, Florida.
Brittany Bailey
Sr. Manager, Pork Customer Marketing, Zoetis
In his capacity as General Counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, Mr. Formica works before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal government on domestic matters, including environmental policy, tax reform, immigration policy, and production issues.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
Carmen Rottenberg
Managing Director, Groundswell Strategy
Carmen Rottenberg is a leader in food safety and agriculture policy. Prior to launching Groundswell Strategy, Carmen served as Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, leading the ten-thousand-person agency charged with ensuring the safety of the nation’s meat, poultry and egg products. Over her thirteen years with USDA, Carmen held several leadership roles at the Department and was credited with spearheading key agency initiatives including modernizing food safety inspection systems and establishing and updating pathogen performance standards. Carmen has extensive experience achieving collaboration across federal, state, and municipal agencies including with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with state departments of agriculture and across USDA’s 29 agencies and offices.
Carmen began her federal career in the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of General Counsel and has experience working in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a Juris Doctor Degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Carmen began her federal career in the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of General Counsel and has experience working in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a Juris Doctor Degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Michael Formica
General Counsel, National Pork Producers Council
In his capacity as General Counsel for the National Pork Producers Council, Mr. Formica works before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal government on domestic matters, including environmental policy, tax reform, immigration policy, and production issues.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.
He was previously an attorney in private practices in Washington, D.C., with a practice representing agricultural clients on environmental and natural resource matters. He has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in Washington, D.C. on environmental, energy and regulatory policy. Formica received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and his law degree from Vermont Law School where he founded the schools influential environmental law journal. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple other federal courts.