The Global Journey Behind Your Valentine’s Bouquet

Behind every Valentine’s Day bouquet is a complex international supply chain that stretches across continents. According to industry officials, the majority of fresh-cut flowers sold in the United States are imported from Colombia and Ecuador, particularly roses, carnations and chrysanthemums.

Valentine’s Day marks one of the busiest shipping periods of the year. Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the holiday requires a significant operational surge, with airlines increasing cargo capacity to transport thousands of tons of flowers to U.S. markets.

Most commercial flower stems enter the country through Miami International Airport, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identifies as the primary port of entry. From there, shipments move via refrigerated trucks or connecting flights to florists nationwide.

CBP agriculture specialists inspect imported flowers to prevent the entry of pests and plant diseases, with the agency estimating it will examine more than a billion stems this year.

The economic impact is substantial. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. consumers are expected to spend billions of dollars on flowers for Valentine’s Day, underscoring both the cultural and commercial scale of the annual tradition.