1 of 6 | Walter Knoll Florists driver Dave Cross delivers a four-dozen rose arrangement for delivery on Valentine's Day in St. Louis on Wednesday. The company said it will deliver nearly 3,000 Valentine's Day orders on this special day. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Wednesday the agency has inspected more than 1 billion cut flower shipments since Jan. 1.
CBP officials check cut flowers for pests and diseases that could harm U.S. agricultural and floral industries.
"Increased shipments of flowers make this a very busy time for CBP, but our agriculture specialists are ready and able to meet this demand while safeguarding our nation against agricultural threats," acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a Valentine's Day statement.
Through Tuesday, the CBP found 1,830 flowers containing pests and insects, including 877 potentially harmful ones that potentially could have spread disease in the United States.
A small number of pests capable of causing harm are found among the millions of flower stems inspected each year, according to the CBP, which said that just one harmful pest could lead to millions of dollars in damages.
Last year, the CBP said it inspected more than 352 million flower bouquets, 76 million roses, and 75 million chrysanthemums.
The three top U.S. ports of entry for cut flowers are New York City, Miami and Otay Mesa, Calif., according to the CBP.
Online visitors can access the CBP regulations for importing agricultural products, including cut flowers, into the United States.
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FAQs
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Wednesday the agency has inspected more than 1 billion cut flower shipments since Jan. 1. CBP officials check cut flowers for pests and diseases that could harm U.S. agricultural and floral industries.
Why do imported flowers need to be inspected by US customs? ›
CBP agriculture specialists inspect each flower shipment that enters the United States to prevent the introduction of insects, pests and diseases into the United States.
How many flowers are bought on Valentine's Day? ›
Back in 1989, about 1 billion cut roses were sold annually in the U.S. By 2023, that had risen to roughly 2.8 billion – enough to give every adult in the country a bouquet of 10.
Which holiday sees more floral purchases? ›
1. Valentine's Day. It should come as no surprise that Valentine's Day is one of the biggest and most significant holidays for the flower industry since a bouquet of large red roses is practically associated with romance. In fact, research shows that more than 250 million roses are grown annually for Valentine's Day.
Where does the US get most flowers from? ›
Today, Colombia is the dominant producer of U.S. cut flowers, with roses, carnations, spray chrysanthemums and Alstroemeria among its top crops. Ecuador takes a close second.
Can flowers go through customs? ›
Travelers must declare all flowers and plants to CBP officers. If a traveler declares a bouquet that has prohibited flowers and greenery, it will be seized. If it does not, CBP agriculture specialists will inspect the bouquet for pests and diseases.
Does customs inspect every package? ›
Do customs open every package? No, they don't immediately open your package without any reason. Your package wi definitely go through a scanner machine (x-ray) and screen your items.
How many flowers are imported to the US for Valentine's day? ›
Last year, CBP officials inspected more than 352 million mixed bouquets, 76 million roses, and 75 million chrysanthemums. These numbers have increased in 2024.
What is the most bought flower on Valentine's day? ›
ROSES. Roses are known to be a symbol of expressing love. Among all the different colors of roses, red ones are mostly sold every Valentine's Day.
What are the 2 most expensive holidays? ›
Which Holiday Has the Most Sales in the US?
| HOLIDAY | 2019 ($Billion) | 2020 ($ Billion) |
|---|
| Easter | 18.1 | 21.7 |
| Mother's Day | 25.0 | 28.1 |
| Father's Day | 16.0 | 17.0 |
| July 4th | 6.7 | 6.5 |
5 more rowsFeb 12, 2023
California produces about 80% of the country's fresh cut flowers — more than any other state, because that is how we roll — yet, less than 25% of all the flowers used in the U.S. are domestically produced.
What does a yellow rose mean? ›
Yellow roses are universally known as symbols of friendship, most people give them to each other for their birthdays or to celebrate the love between two good friends. Roses symbolise everything from “I love you” to “I care for our friendship” and colours vary from romantic red to energetic orange.
What cut flowers don t ship well? ›
Flowers like Dahlias, Allium, and Zinnias are among those that cannot handle the shipping process without suffering damage.
What country does the U.S. import the most roses from? ›
What is the number one selling flower in the United States? ›
Tulips are the most sold flower in the US, according to the most recent USDA report. More than 175m tulip stems were sold in 2020 – that's one tulip for every two people.
What does it mean when the import customs keep it for inspection? ›
A customs inspection is an official measure carried out by the customs office, and is an important part of freight transport. Specific reasons for a customs inspection may include doubts regarding the customs declaration, monitoring, or suspicion of smuggling or trademark violations.
Why do customs and border patrol agents need to inspect the flowers that arrive from Colombia? ›
The majority of the flowers come from Colombia, Ecuador and other parts of South America. But before they can be shipped out they must be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents who check for things that could harm the agricultural and floral industries in this country.
Why are cut flower imports checked by CBP agricultural specialists? ›
1, for pests and diseases that could harm U.S. agricultural and floral industries. “Increased shipments of flowers make this a very busy time for CBP, but our agriculture specialists are ready and able to meet this demand while safeguarding our nation against agricultural threats,” said Troy A.
At which airport do 90 percent of all flowers imported into the United States arrive? ›
About 90 percent of the cut flowers imported to the United States each year, including millions of Valentine's Day roses, enter the country through Miami International Airport. Customs and Border Protection agents who specialize in agricultural products inspect cut flowers arriving in Miami for disease and insects.
