MIAMI (AP) — Winged infants capturing heart-shaped arrows would possibly get a lot of the credit score on Valentine’s Day, however the true magic behind tens of millions of romantic bouquets occurs in a cargo warehouse at a South Florida airport.
Agricultural specialists at Miami Worldwide Airport will course of about 990 million stems of reduce flowers within the weeks earlier than Feb. 14, based on U.S. Customs and Border Safety. Round 90% of the contemporary reduce flowers being offered for Valentine’s Day in america come via Miami, whereas the opposite 10% go via Los Angeles.
Roses, carnations, pompons, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums and gypsophila arrive on tons of of flights, principally from Colombia and Ecuador, to Miami on their journey to florists and supermarkets throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Miami’s largest flower importer is Avianca Cargo, primarily based in Medellín, Colombia. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, the corporate is transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 full cargo flights, CEO Diogo Elias stated Friday in Miami. They’re operating greater than twice as many flights in comparison with regular.
“We fly flowers for the entire yr, however Valentine’s is particular,” Elias stated. “Far more focused on roses, crimson roses particularly. Greater than 50-60% are crimson roses at this time.”
Prospects shopping for flowers will seemingly see an increase in value this yr. Christine Boldt, govt vp for the Affiliation of Floral Importers of America, stated the trigger is basically associated to tariffs positioned final yr on imports from Colombia and Ecuador, together with a brand new minimal wage enacted this yr in Colombia.
“This provides vital {dollars} to the bouquets which are coming in,” Boldt stated. “Each shopper is gonna must face further prices.”
Despite higher costs, Flowers proceed to make up considered one of MIA’s largest imports, airport director Ralph Cutié stated. The airport obtained virtually 3.5 million tons of cargo final yr, with flowers accounting for about 400,000 tons. Greater than 1 / 4 of these flowers are shipped earlier than Valentine’s Day, marking a 6% increase over final yr.
“The mom, the spouse, the girlfriend in Omaha, Nebraska, that will get their flowers for both Valentine’s or Mom’s Day, chances are high these flowers handed via our airport,” Cutié stated. “And that’s one thing we take loads of pleasure in.”
CBP agriculture specialists verify the bundles of flowers for doubtlessly dangerous plant, pest and international animal illnesses from getting into the nation, CBP senior official Daniel Alonso stated. Inspectors on common discover about 40-50 plant pests a day, the commonest being moths. Pests are turned over to the U.S. Division of Agriculture, which determines the potential risk.
“Our rigorous course of is important to safeguarding the floral and agricultural industries, making certain that our imported flowers usually are not introducing any pests or dangerous illnesses,” Alonso stated.
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