Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Erika Block, the founder of Local Orbit, Ann Arbor, Michigan, the supply chain platform for people who are creating a new, connected food economy. Local Orbit, named to the list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, enables institutions and restaurants to efficiently purchase from local farmers, food makers and aggregators, while maintaining complete supply chain transparency. Local Orbit powers local marketplaces and supply chain networks in 32 states and provinces, supporting over 9,500 buyers and suppliers. The firm enables efficient, decentralized supply chains that can meet the demand for food produced closer to where people live, while saving money for foodservice buyers and increasing market share for small and mid-size food producers.