Only a few days shy of Mother’s Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists across the United States continue to inspect cut flower shipments before they reach the American public.
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the Easter holiday weekend are the busiest times of the year for CBP agriculture specialists. Since April 1, CBP agriculture specialists have inspected more than 287,000 shipments of cut flowers from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, intercepting 857 significant pests of varying species. Colombia remains the top shipping country, with more than 681,358,000 flower stems, most being shipped through the Miami International Airport. The most popular flowers include roses, mixed bouquets, and chrysanthemums.
While it is not illegal to import flowers from other countries, certain flowers and plant materials commonly found in floral arrangements are restricted because they may carry plant pests and diseases that can cause damage to U.S. agriculture. A single pest could cause millions of dollars of damage to the nation’s crops. According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Noctuidae family, or owlet moths, for example, include more than 35,000 known species that are reported to feed on a range of herbs, shrubs, and trees, including crop plants such as bean and corn.
CBP recommends that people who wish to import flowers, plant materials, and other agricultural items consult the CBP Information Center section on the CBP website before they travel, or call (877) 227-5511. Travelers should also declare all items acquired abroad to CBP officers to avoid civil or criminal penalties and reduce the risk of introducing pest and disease to the United States. CBP now offers the CBP One mobile app, which allows travelers to request a variety of CBP services, including inspection of agricultural products. The CBP One app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.