Fresh-cut flowers gracing tables on Mother's Day were likely imported from countries thousands of miles away. Given that under the best conditions cut flowers have a short window of peak freshness, it becomes a complex logistical challenge to connect a farmer's field, likely in South America, to a family flower vase.
Eden Prairie-based C.H. Robinson, one of the largest third-party logistics companies in the world, is one of the specialists in this sphere. With airfreight and surface transportation expertise, a history of dealing with fresh produce and a special flower-processing facility in Miami, the company expects to move 56 million pounds of fresh-cut flowers for this Mother's Day.
About 90% of the flowers imported to the United States move through Miami International Airport. Once in the U.S., the fresh-cut flowers have a shelf life of 10 to 14 days, so speed, efficiency and temperature-sensitive storage and transportation is essential for every stop along the way.
If the temperature is too cold, delicate buds can freeze. If it's too warm, they may blossom too soon or, worse, wilt. Delays can mean fewer days at florists or retailers." A huge swing in demand for temperature-controlled capacity is not something many logistics companies could tackle," said Mike Moyski, vice president of Robinson's temperature-controlled and flatbed businesses. "We are proud of our ability to quickly scale to meet our customers' needs and reduce complexities that can lead to delays. With florals, the clock on freshness runs down quickly."
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