CBP ready for Miami’s Valentines Day peak

CBP ready for MiamiÆs Valentines Day peak U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agriculture specialists at Miami International Airport are ready to handle the annual wave of Valentine's Day flowers moving through the airport, checking the plants for insects, pests and diseases that could potentially impact agriculture and the floral industry in the U.S.
   'CBP's agricultural specialists are experts at identifying signs of insects, pests or disease in shipments of flowers, plants and fresh herbs,' explained Vernon Foret, acting executive director, agriculture programs and trade liaison. 'They are dedicated professionals, who enthusiastically accomplish the mission of protecting the United States from the potential threats to our environment and economy every day.'
   Miami is the single-busiest U.S. gateway for flower imports, and the period before Valentine's Day represents an annual peak. In 2007, the CBP said, Miami's CBP agriculture specialists processed more than 5 billion imported flower stems. That compares with the 2 billion flowers stems that passed through New York and 168 million stems through Los Angeles.
   Miami is the primary gateway because many of the imports originate in Latin America. CBP said the top flower imports in Miami are roses and mixed bouquets from Colombia, followed by roses from Ecuador.