UPS prepares to ship 110 million flowers ahead of Valentine's Day

US parcel delivery company UPS is expected to move more than 110 million flowers throughout the US in the run up to Valentine’s Day. Over 90% of the flowers are being imported from the Latin American countries and will travel through Miami International Airport, home to UPS’s largest air cargo facility.

It has been said that consumers are expected to spend an average of $142 on Valentine’s gifts this year, with $41 being spent on flowers alone.

Jose Acosta, UPS Americans Region president of Latin American Operations and Public Affairs, commented: “Meeting our customers’ needs is at the heart of what we do. This year we’re transporting more than 200,000 boxes of flowers in temperature-controlled aircraft.” The flowers will stay fresh in a 27,000 square foot refrigerated warehouse at the air cargo facility situated at Miami airport, before they are inspected and sorted before travelling to their end destination.