LAX a primrose path for Ecuador-to-Japan flowers

LAX a primrose path for Ecuador-to-Japan flowers    Ecuadorian roses have been taking a new path to Japan the last two months.
   The Trade Commission of Ecuador in Los Angeles said Wednesday the roses have been transiting from Ecuador to Japan via Los Angeles International Airport, a move that it said has reduced transit times for the perishable goods and lowered shipping costs.
   'Traditionally, Ecuadorian roses have transited through Amsterdam and Frankfurt in Europe and Miami in the U.S. to reach Japan,' the trade commission said at a Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon this week.
   Japan is the most expensive rose market in the world, and nearly 45 tons of roses have been flown via LAX in the last two months.
   “It has long been a goal to find a way for Ecuadorian flowers, especially roses, to reach world markets faster and at lower costs,' said Eduardo Borrero, trade commissioner of Ecuador in Los Angeles.
   Borrero said two logistics companies — Mercury Air Cargo and Apollo Freight — headed the initiative. Mercury recently opened the largest in-airport refrigeration storage unit on the West Coast (with the flowers never leaving the airport as they transit to Japan) and Apollo worked with two Asian air carriers servicing Japan to obtain space for the roses. Operflor Cargo, an Ecuadorian freight forwarder, secured the business from Japan.