As Miami International Airport gears up for Valentine's day, love isn't the only thing in the air. A staggering 460 million flowers have made their layover in Miami, a hub for the nation's Valentine's Day floral imports from South America. This season, according to WSVN, Avianca Cargo senior vice president Diogo Elias confirmed that "around 460 million flowers" mostly consisting of roses and carnations, were shipped from Ecuador and Colombia.
Handling an immense volume of fragile cargo, about 90% of U.S. roses and fresh cut flowers sold for the romantic holiday pass through Miami, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. These blooms, on hundreds of flights, start arriving in mid-January and continue until today, in a non-stop parade of petals destined for eager consumers across the U.S. and Canada. Around 18,000 tons of flowers, they sweep into the country, making their first stop in the bustling corridors of Miami's airport.
But Miami isn't just the gateway of sweet scents and vibrant colors. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists stand vigilant, examining the flower shipments closely to prevent any invasive species or harmful diseases from slipping through. Port Director Danny Alonso detailed the critical nature of their work to CBS News Miami, stating that "It's one of the most demanding times of the year for our staff here," as they poured over the vast amounts of floral imports.
This year, moving through Feb. 8, these specialists have inspected over 832 million stems and thwarted 1,100 plant pests from tagging along with the flowers. The relentless effort of the airport's team comes into sharp relief when considering the potential harm: foreign pests and diseases result in approximately $120 billion in U.S. economic and environmental losses annually.
Once the Valentine's Day rush fizzles out, Miami’s floral gatekeepers won't have long to rest. With Mother's Day on the horizon, another high-volume floral holiday, Miami International Airport and its diligent inspectors will ready themselves to do it all over again – ensuring that every bloom that brightens someone's day is safe for the American soil it graces.
