Valentine’s Day Flowers Arrive in the U.S. as Miami Handles Nearly 1 Billion Stems
MIAMI — With Valentine’s Day approaching, anyone forgetting to buy flowers won’t be able to blame a shortage.

Leading up to February 14, agricultural specialists at Miami International Airport have processed approximately 940 million stems of cut flowers, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Around 90% of all fresh-cut flowers sold for Valentine’s Day in the U.S. pass through Miami, while the remaining 10% arrive via Los Angeles.

Roses, carnations, pompons, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and gypsophila are flown in from Colombia and Ecuador on hundreds of flights before making their way to florists and supermarkets across the U.S. and Canada.
 

Avianca Cargo Leads Flower Imports
Miami’s largest flower importer is Avianca Cargo, headquartered in Medellín, Colombia. Over the past three weeks, the company has transported approximately 18,000 tons of flowers on 300 full cargo flights, according to senior vice president Diogo Elias, who spoke at a news conference in Miami last week.

“We transport flowers year-round, but during the Valentine’s season, we more than double our capacity due to the surge in demand,” Elias explained.

Flowers continue to be one of the airport’s most significant imports, noted Miami-Dade chief operating officer Jimmy Morales. Last year, the airport handled over 3 million tons of cargo, with flowers accounting for nearly 400,000 tons, valued at more than $1.6 billion.

“With 1,500 tons of flowers arriving daily, that translates to 90,000 tons of flower imports worth $450 million in January and February alone,” Morales said.

CBP’s Role in Flower Inspection
Inspecting the influx of flowers is a critical responsibility for CBP agriculture specialists, who examine the shipments for potentially harmful pests and plant diseases that could threaten U.S. agriculture.

“Invasive species have led to $120 billion in annual economic and environmental losses in the United States, affecting crop yields and overall agricultural quality,” said MIA port director Daniel Alonso.

Trade Tensions and Colombian Flower Imports
Colombia’s flower industry recently faced potential economic strain due to a proposed 25% tariff. The tariff was considered after tensions arose between former President Donald Trump and the Colombian government over the acceptance of deportation flights. However, the dispute was resolved in late January when Colombia agreed to allow the flights to land.

Previously, Colombian President Gustavo Petro had rejected two U.S. military aircraft carrying deported migrants, criticizing Trump’s approach to immigration. In response, Petro had threatened to impose a 25% tariff increase on U.S. goods entering Colombia.