Holiday flower shipments blossom before Valentine's Day

It happens every year: In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, demand for fresh flowers blossoms, if you'll pardon the pun, and imports of flowers soar. This year was no exception. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14, its agents processed 801 million cut flower stems at aircargo hubs and along the U.S.-Mexico border.

About 90 percent of imported flowers enter the U.S. through Miami International Airport, according to Flagler Global Logistics, whose South Florida Logistics Center alone handled more than 100 million roses, carnations, and tulips for the Valentine's Day season. The facility, located adjacent to the airport, was selected by Elite Flower to process its Valentine's Day shipments—enough flowers to fill four B-767 cargo aircraft every day around the holiday.

For more statistics on Valentine's Day flower shipment volumes, ports of entry, originating countries, and the most popular species, visit the CBP website.