
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 7, 1994                   TAG: 9405090118
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Journal of Commerce
DATELINE: MIAMI                                LENGTH: Medium

FEAR NOT; FLOWERS FOR MOM ARE ON THE WAY

For those who look at the calendar today and suddenly realize they have once again forgotten that Sunday is Mother's Day, don't worry. Chances are the makings of mom's last-minute floral bouquet are at your local florist or supermarket or in a refrigerated trailer rolling in that direction.

The heart of the imported flower industry is Miami, where planes from Colombia unload 30,000 boxes of fresh flowers a night, according to the Association of Floral Importers of Florida.

U.S. imports of fresh cut flowers in 1993 were valued by the U.S. Customs Service at $370.9 million. Colombia accounted for $251.7 million, almost all of it through Miami International Airport.

About 65 percent of all fresh cut flowers sold in the United States enter through Miami, and most of the flowers discharged in Miami are shipped to destinations east of the Mississippi River.

In addition to such offshore sources as South America, Central America and Mexico, florists in western states also buy and truck or fly flowers in from farms in California and Colorado.

The flow is especially heavy this time of year. Valentine's Day is the top holiday for rose sales, but Mother's Day is the champion in overall flower volume.

Getting the flowers from Latin America to your local florist in picture-perfect condition is a tribute to logistical know-how.

Flowers cut Monday afternoon in Colombia can be out of Miami and on their way to their final destination by Wednesday. Refrigerated trucks leaving Miami Wednesday will have the flowers at destinations as far away as Canada by Friday morning.

Our Florists say . . .

(local reaction piece by Erika Bolstad) - see microfilm for text.

by CNB