US: As flower imports increase, Miami remains main entry point
Miami is the Ellis Island of flowers; over 80 percent of all flowers imported to the U.S. come through its port district.
By the time the flowers arrive at their final destination, they have been traveling for days from countries all over the world.
Colombia dominates the North American flower market; over half of all flowers imported to the U.S. are grown in the South American country.
But slowly other countries with equally fertile climates are seeking to move up the ranks. In recent years, Ecuador — second in line with 20 percent of U.S. imports — has increased its market share 1 percentage point at a time.
Most flowers imported to the U.S. enter the country through Miami International Airport. From there they are either distributed to wholesalers in Miami or trucked to wholesalers across the country.
Despite increasing imports, most of the flowers sold in the U.S. are domestically grown. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, domestic flower production grossed at $4.37 billion in 2015.
California is the largest floricultural producer among the 15 states surveyed by the USDA, followed by Florida. Both states produced roughly $1 billion of flowers in 2015.
Read more at Naples Daily News (Alena Maschke)
