"When we launched the site in September 2000, we were expecting and dealing with hundreds of visitors per month. Now we have monthly visitors that number in the thousands, peaking in the tens of thousands." Stated William R. Carlson, Managing Director of the FPO. "The highest volume was during our Fall 2001 advertising wave in October, when we had well over a 500,000 hits. February 2002 website activity, even when we were not actively promoting, shows over 200,000 hits, so there's tremendous residual interest and growth in our site's offerings."

In response to this increasing interest and demand, the updated FPO website augments its consumer appeal by adding an Ask Bridget" section, featuring the expertise of Dr. Bridget Behe, Phd. and Professor of Horticulture at Michigan State University where she teaches courses on horticulture marketing and management. Bridget has conducted nearly 50 consumer and market research projects, and authored over 200 articles in the trade press and reference journals on horticultural topics. In addition to writing a monthly column on the website, consumers can Ask Bridget their questions on-line on how to get the most value out of their fresh cut flowers.

A section has also been added to meet the needs of garden writers and others writers who produce consumer focused articles for the general public through newspaper and magazine articles. The FPO's "GWAA" section provides members of the Garden Writers Association of America and other authors who cover gardening and home decorating topics a valuable resource with sample stories, story ideas, technical information and artwork that can be used in their articles.

Floral retailers can now view the ever-expanding list of press and media coverage the FPO has generated through its public relations efforts on behalf of the floral industry. The "FPO Near You" section lists the markets that have covered the FPO program and delivered our consumer message in one form or another. Currently FPO stories and interviews have reached nearly 8 million people in 42 states. These numbers are over and above the audience our promotion program reaches through the TV and radio commercials, contests, billboards, in-store signing and the other elements of the consumer advertising campaign.

The web site also has an updated the "See Our Ads" section to detail the program support the FPO can provide local market Allied associations, wholesalers and retail coalitions that want to promote the FPO message to their consumers.

"This new site is now a much improved resource for the entire flower industry." Stated Barry Gottlieb, FPO Director and president of Esprit Miami. "We now have top notch consumer elements, a comprehensive vehicle to communicate with floral retailers, a mechanism to facilitate the information availability to writers, and links to flower encyclopedias and other trade groups. We invite everyone to use this resource as a tool to increase the consumption and use of cut flowers."