Miami Airport Processes 90% of US Valentine's Flowers

Agricultural specialists at Miami International Airport handle nearly 1 billion flower stems ahead of the holiday.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Around 90% of the fresh cut flowers being sold for Valentine's Day in the United States come through Miami International Airport, where agricultural specialists process about 990 million stems of flowers like roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums that arrive on hundreds of flights from Colombia and Ecuador in the weeks before February 14.

Why it matters

Miami's role as the primary hub for Valentine's Day flowers highlights the city's importance as a global logistics center, with the airport receiving almost 3.5 million tons of cargo last year. The influx of flowers also puts a spotlight on the work of CBP agriculture specialists who inspect the shipments for potentially harmful pests.

The details

Avianca Cargo, based in Medellin, Colombia, is Miami's largest flower importer, transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 full cargo flights in preparation for Valentine's Day. Customers may see higher flower prices this year due to tariffs placed on imports from Colombia and Ecuador, as well as a new minimum wage enacted in Colombia.

  • In the weeks before February 14, Miami International Airport processes about 990 million stems of cut flowers.
  • The airport received almost 3.5 million tons of cargo last year, with flowers accounting for about 400,000 tons, more than a quarter of which are shipped before Valentine's Day.

The players

Miami International Airport

The primary hub for Valentine's Day flowers in the United States, processing about 90% of the fresh cut flowers sold for the holiday.

Avianca Cargo

The largest flower importer at Miami International Airport, transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 full cargo flights in preparation for Valentine's Day.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Agricultural specialists at CBP check the flower shipments for potentially harmful plant, pest, and foreign animal diseases, finding about 40 to 50 plant pests a day on average.

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What they’re saying

“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 Cutie, Airport Director, Miami International Airport

What’s next

CBP agriculture specialists will continue to closely inspect the flower shipments arriving at Miami International Airport in the days leading up to Valentine's Day to ensure the safety and quality of the flowers being distributed across the United States.

The takeaway

Miami's role as the primary hub for Valentine's Day flowers underscores the city's importance as a global logistics center, with the airport's agricultural specialists playing a critical part in ensuring the safe and timely delivery of these seasonal blooms to customers across the country.