Ann Arbor's Real Time Farms triples staff, goes national

Real Time Farms got its start in Ann Arbor 18 months ago and is going national today as it continues to spread food transparency across the U.S.

The Ann Arbor-based start-up is a combination social media tool for foodies and a nationwide online directory of farmers markets and what's available there. Users can share pictures of local markets and farm stands by posting them on the site, along with product information and handy tips for other patrons.

"This isn't about sustainable or local," says Cara Rosaen, co-founder & director of vegetable outreach for Real Time Farms. "It's about transparency."

Cara Rosaen co-founded Real Time Farms with her husband Karl, a former Google employee who moved back to Michigan to start the venture. They have tripled their team to six core members and another 20 interns.

"Part of it is that this is the right time," Rosaen says. "The other part is we have a really solid tech team. That has really helped us grow."

Real Time Farms has recently launched its software and has been gaining traction with users. More than 32,000 photos have been uploaded to its site. It just launched its software for restaurants so it can spread food awareness further into the food chain.

"It's really just a matter of capturing people's enthusiasm that exists and creating systems to channel it," Rosaen says.

Source: Cara Rosaen, co-founder & director of vegetable outreach for Real Time Farms
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.