Winged babies may get the spotlight on the Valentine’s Day, but the real work behind millions of romantic bouquets happens inside a cargo warehouse at Miami International Airport.
Agricultural specialists at the airport are expected to process about 990 million stems of cut flowers in the weeks leading up to 14 February, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Roughly 90 percent of fresh-cut flowers sold for Valentine’s Day in the United States pass through Miami, with the remaining 10 percent arriving via Los Angeles.
Roses, carnations, pompons, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and gypsophila arrive on hundreds of flights mostly from Colombia and Ecuador before being distributed to florists and supermarkets across the US and Canada.
Avianca Cargo, Miami’s largest flower importer, is transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 full cargo flights this season, CEO Diogo Elias said Friday.
That’s more than double the company’s usual flight volume. Elias said, “We fly flowers year-round, but Valentine’s is special. It’s much more concentrated on roses especially red roses, which make up 50–60 percent at this time.”
Consumers, however, may face higher prices this year. Christine Boldt, executive vice president of the Association of Floral Importers of America, said tariffs imposed last year on imports from Colombia and Ecuador, along with a new minimum wage in Colombia, have added significant costs. She said, “Every consumer is going to have to face additional costs.”
Despite the price hikes, flowers remain one of Miami International Airport’s largest imports, airport director Ralph Cutié said. The airport handled nearly 3.5 million tons of cargo last year, with flowers accounting for about 400,000 tons. More than a quarter of those shipments arrive before Valentine’s Day, marking a 6 percent increase over last year.
Cutié said, “The mother, the wife, the girlfriend in Omaha, Nebraska, who gets flowers for Valentine’s or Mother’s Day—chances are those flowers passed through our airport. And that’s something we take a lot of pride in.”
CBP agriculture specialists inspect the shipments for harmful pests and diseases. On average, inspectors intercept 40–50 plant pests daily, most commonly moths, said CBP senior official Daniel Alonso. The pests are handed over to the US Department of Agriculture to assess potential risks.
“Our rigorous process is vital to safeguarding the floral and agricultural industries, ensuring that imported flowers do not introduce pests or harmful diseases,” Alonso said.
