The new year has started, but before looking forward to what 2020 has to offer, we would like to reflect on 2019. What were the most popular topics? Which were the most read articles? Below an overview.
At Proflora, clockwise: Continental Breeding, Plantador, Gadot, The Elite Flower Group
Photo reports
When looking at the statistics of last year, we see that the photo reports are doing very well. Our editors walk the show floors to take pictures of the exhibitors and their products, and they learn more about the latest developments in the industry, which are in turn described during the show days and in these reports. When looking at the top 50 best read articles, the photo reports for Proflora (Colomabia), IPM Essen (Germany) and IFTF (Netherlands) scored the best, followed by the photo report of the IFTEX (Kenya), PMA Fresh Summit (USA), Hortiflorexpo IPM Shanghai (China), FlowersExpo (Russia), FlowerTrials (Netherlands and Germany), California Spring Trials (USA), FloraHolland Trade Fair (Netherlands), Naivasha Horticultural Fair (Kenya), and Myplant and Garden (Italy).
Challenges
Unfortunately, the industry also had to deal with several challenges this year, like the road blocks of one of the most important roads for the Naivasha flower industry - causing losses for the industry, and the mystery of the decreasing hydrangea exports out of Colombia. 
But most readers were interested in the 12-day strike in Ecuador. As flower farmers were suffering from this strike, we kept our readers up to date and the articles related to this matter were therefore highly ranked in the top 5 best read articles of 2019 - with the update article in which Expoflores declared a state of emergency as the best read article of 2019.
US flower industry
It is known that the US is a country with a lot of potential. The flower consumption per capita is still low and the industry is eager to increase it. Therefore, this infographic that looks at the US flower industry was in the top 5 best read articles of 2019. It clearly displays the flower industry statistics of the country.
Amazing Flowers of Victoria
New businesses/initiatives
There was also a high interest in new businesses. Amazing Flowers of Victoria, for example, was established in 2017 and exports Thai flowers and plants - which usually were mainly destined for the local market. In just over a year, the business grew rapidly. Also a new platform was set up and opened to the general public at the beginning of 2019, namely Fresh-o-Fair. It serves as a channel between Ecuadorian flower farms and the European consumer. Another initiative that interested many readers was the innovative idea of the American William Samson to grow vanilla orchids in ornamental greenhouses in California. Also, the 'mega project' of Colombian grower Valley Springs as well as the 100 hectares in Mexico dedicated to cut flower production were read well.
Hasfarm and FleuraMetz joining forces in China
Company news
Many company announcements were published in 2019, and among the most read were: Hasfarm and FleuraMetz joining forces in China, Dümmen Orange and Kordes Roses starting collaboration, new headquarters for Gasa Group, Benary opening new production site in Chile, and Morel celebrating its 100th anniversary by opening a new greenhouse.
At Sian Roses
Roses
And of course, a lot was published on roses. Valentine's Day is one of the main holidays for this flower and therefore, the articles related to this day were read well. Yvonne Tirop of Sian Roses, a Kenyan rose farm, told us that the rose prices were low in the run-up to this holiday. And after Valentine's Day, we spoke with several rose growers from all over the world to reflect on Valentine's Day 2019. Other news related to roses that scored in the top 50 most read articles were: Orange: The new trend in flowers, the first roses that were planted in a new greenhouse in Azerbaijan, Mexico: a new frontier for rose growers, and Kaizen method doubles production at Marginpar.