MIAMI, Fla. (CBS12) — More than 90% of all plants entering the United States pass through Miami International Airport, officials say, a fact made especially clear this week as inspectors navigate a crush of Valentine’s Day flower shipments arriving from Colombia.

With the holiday fast approaching, teams of specialists are working nonstop to examine thousands of boxes filled with roses, bouquets, and mixed floral arrangements. The airport says each shipment is carefully inspected for insects and signs of disease—an essential step in protecting South Florida’s agriculture from potentially devastating pests that can slip in on imported plants.

inspectors at Miami International Airport are working through a surge of Valentine’s Day flower shipments from Colombia to protect South Florida’s agriculture and ensure millions of blooms reach consumers in time for the holiday. (CBS Newspath | WFOR){ }

This annual surge is one of the busiest plant-processing periods of the year, and officials say keeping the operation running smoothly requires weeks of planning across multiple agencies and international carriers.

Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the process starts long before the flowers ever leave South America.

Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the process starts long before the flowers ever leave South America. (CBS Newspath | WFOR)

Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the process starts long before the flowers ever leave South America. (CBS Newspath | WFOR)

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“That coordination starts four to five months before the season, of how many flights, what days we need to fly, and then all the weather as well because it’s not a product that you can produce in an industry like other ones,” Elias said.

Miami International Airport remains the country’s primary gateway for floral imports, making its role critical as Valentine’s Day demand peaks. Thousands of blooms pass through the facility during the holiday period, ultimately making their way to florists, supermarkets, and doorsteps across the nation.

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