As Valentine's Day approaches, love is literally in the air—alongside tens of millions of blossoms. This year, Miami International Airport showcases its floral dominance by processing approximately 940 million stems of cut flowers, ensuring no partner lacks a bouquet on February 14th. A whopping 90% of the fresh-cut flowers entering the United States during this season are routed through this vibrant Florida airport, while the remainder takes a path through Los Angeles.
These stunning blossoms, primarily sourced from the rich floral landscapes of Colombia and Ecuador, include a medley of roses, carnations, pompons, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and gypsophila. They all arrive on numerous flights operated by both passenger and cargo airlines dedicated to meeting the heightened demand for romantic tokens across North America.
A key player in this floral economy is Avianca Cargo, based in Medellín, Colombia. According to senior vice president Diogo Elias, the firm has efficiently transported around 18,000 tons of flowers via 300 full cargo flights in just three weeks leading up to Valentine's Day. We transport flowers all year round, but specifically during the Valentine's season, we more than double our capacity because there's more than double the demand, Elias remarked during a recent press briefing in Miami.
The influx of floral freight is a familiar sight for Miami-Dade’s largest airport, where flowers consistently rank among the top imports. In an impressive testament to this, the airport handled over 3 million tons of cargo last year, with blooms contributing nearly 400,000 tons, valued at more than $1.6 billion. Miami-Dade chief operating officer Jimmy Morales highlighted the intensity of this operation, announcing, With 1,500 tons of flowers arriving daily, that's 90,000 tons worth $450 million just in January and February.
While the flowers' fragrance grabs attention, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists are hard at work ensuring these imports do not carry unwelcome guests. As MIA port director Daniel Alonso explained, these experts are vigilant against invasive species that pose substantial threats—causing $120 billion in economic and environmental damage annually to the United States.
The trade in flowers also weathers its share of political storms. Last year, tensions arose when Colombia's flower industry faced a possible 25% tariff due to diplomatic clashes. The dispute centered on U.S. deportation flights, which Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially blocked, decrying the treatment of deported migrants. However, this potential trade disruption was averted in late January, when Colombia agreed to resume acceptance of the flights.
Despite the occasional political hurdle, the global flower trade continues to flourish, creating a fragrant bridge between continents and cultures. Miami, with its central role, ensures that the tradition of gifting flowers remains a robust expression of affection, ready and waiting for every suitable occasion.