Valentine's Day roses turn Miami, usually a freight desert, into trucking's busiest hot spot

Tue, 02/14/2023 - 13:29

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialist inspects a bunch of red roses at Miami International Airport. Miami International Airport receives 91% of all flowers imported in the US.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

In the weeks leading up to February 14th, around 500 truckloads of roses leave Miami every day.
The US will spend $25.6 billion on Valentine's day this year. Flowers are 37% of the gift-giving.
91% of all flowers imported into the US go through Miami.

Something unusual happens in Miami, Florida, in weeks before Valentine's Day. The city fills with flowers and thousands of trucks swarm South to redistribute them all over the US.