Miami Airport Sees Surge in Valentine's Flower Imports

Despite tariffs and higher costs, flower imports to Miami International Airport hit record levels ahead of Valentine's Day.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Miami International Airport is processing around 990 million stems of cut flowers in the weeks before Valentine's Day, with the majority coming from Colombia and Ecuador. Flower imports to the airport have increased by 6% over last year, as major flower importer Avianca Cargo is running more than twice as many flights to meet demand. However, customers can expect to pay higher prices this year due to tariffs on imports and a new minimum wage in Colombia.

Why it matters

Miami International Airport is a major hub for the floral industry, handling around 400,000 tons of flower imports annually, with over a quarter arriving before Valentine's Day. The surge in flower imports highlights the importance of the airport to the U.S. floral supply chain, but also the challenges facing the industry due to trade policies and rising costs.

The details

Agricultural specialists at Miami International Airport will process around 990 million stems of cut flowers in the weeks before Valentine's Day, with roses, carnations, pompons, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums and gypsophila arriving on hundreds of flights from Colombia and Ecuador. Avianca Cargo, Miami's largest flower importer, is transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 full cargo flights, more than double their normal volume. However, customers can expect to pay higher prices this year due to tariffs placed on imports from Colombia and Ecuador, as well as a new minimum wage enacted in Colombia.

  • Miami International Airport receives around 3.5 million tons of cargo annually, with flowers accounting for about 400,000 tons.
  • More than a quarter of the airport's annual flower imports arrive before Valentine's Day, marking a 6% increase over last year.

The players

Avianca Cargo

Miami's largest flower importer, based in Medellín, Colombia, that is transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 full cargo flights for Valentine's Day.

Ralph Cutié

The director of Miami International Airport, who stated that the airport takes pride in the fact that many of the flowers sold across the U.S. and Canada for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day pass through their facility.

Daniel Alonso

A senior official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who oversees the rigorous inspection process to safeguard against plant pests and diseases entering the country through flower imports.

Christine Boldt

The executive vice president for the Association of Floral Importers of America, who noted that higher tariffs and a new minimum wage in Colombia have led to significant increases in the cost of bouquets for consumers.

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What they’re saying

“We fly flowers for the whole year, but Valentine's is special. Much more concentrated on roses, red roses especially. More than 50-60% are red roses at this time.”

— Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo

“The mother, the wife, the girlfriend in Omaha, Nebraska, that gets their flowers for either Valentine's or Mother's Day, chances are those flowers passed through our airport. And that's something we take a lot of pride in.”

— Ralph Cutié, Airport Director

“Our rigorous process is vital to safeguarding the floral and agricultural industries, ensuring that our imported flowers are not introducing any pests or harmful diseases.”

— Daniel Alonso, Senior Official, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

What’s next

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue to monitor any plant pests or diseases found in the flower imports to determine potential threats to the domestic floral and agricultural industries.

The takeaway

Miami International Airport's role as a major hub for Valentine's Day flower imports highlights the global nature of the floral supply chain and the challenges facing the industry, from trade policies to rising labor costs. However, the airport's rigorous inspection process helps ensure the safety and quality of the flowers reaching consumers across the U.S. and Canada.