How much does MIA love Valentine’s Day? We count the ways
With more flower imports than any other airport in the U.S., Miami International Airport literally has a billion reasons to celebrate Valentine’s Day tomorrow:
· U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspects more than one billion cut flowers for insects, pests, and diseases every Valentine’s Day season from January 1 to February 15 before they enter the U.S., and 89% of those imported flowers come through MIA, making it America’s flower imports gateway.
· In 2022, CBP inspected 1.23 billion cut flowers during the peak season, and this year was projected to be just as busy.
· MIA annually receives over 327,881 tons of flower imports valued at $1.5 billion, largely because of the Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day peak seasons.
· Consumers are expected to spend $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, up from $23.9 billion in 2022 and one of the highest spending years on record, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Miami International Airport, America’s busiest airport for international freight and the second busiest for international passengers, is receiving an unprecedented investment of $14 billion in capital improvements and maintenance upgrades. MIA offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport and is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $212 billion and approximately 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida annually.
To request materials in accessible format, Sign Language Interpreters, CART services and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) public meetings and events please email the ADA Office at ADAcoordinator@miami-airport.com or call the office in 305-869-1859 five days in advance to initiate your request. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).