see also: in February 2008:   Marijuana Seized by CBP Officers at San Luis, Ariz. Port   Border Patrol in Tucson Seizes 4 Tons of Marijuana   CBP Officers in Philadelphia Discover Venomous 8-Legged Stowaway   Arizona Event to Assist Border Patrol Applicants   Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Announce International Initiative Against Traffickers in Counterfeit Network Hardware   Border Patrol Apprehends 62 Illegal Migrants Hiding in Arizona House   CBP Officers in Calif. Find Smuggled Women in Truck Engine Compartment ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Miami — With Valentine's Day just around the corner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working at U.S. ports of entry are busy making sure that flower imports are free from insects, pests and diseases that could harm the agricultural and floral industries of the United States.

"CBP’s agricultural specialists are experts at identifying signs of insects, pests or disease in shipments of flowers, plants and fresh herbs," said Vernon Foret, Acting Executive Director, Agriculture Programs & Trade Liaison "They are dedicated professionals, who enthusiastically accomplish the mission of protecting the United States from the potential threats to our environment and economy every day."

Miami ranks first among U.S. international airports for shipments of cut flower imports, followed by New York and Los Angeles.

Interesting facts about cut flower imports:

• In 2007, Miami CBP agriculture specialists processed more than 5 billion stems of imported flowers, compared to, 168 million flower stems for Los Angeles, and 98 million flower stems for New York
• In these shipments of imported flowers, Miami intercepted 21,152 plant pests that could be detrimental to American agriculture, New York intercepted 5,332 and Los Angeles intercepted 2,831.
• The top flower imports in Miami are roses and mixed bouquets from Colombia, followed by roses from Ecuador.
• The top flower imports in New York are vanda from Thailand, lillium from the Dominican Republic and narcissus from the Netherlands.
• In Los Angeles, roses from Ecuador are the top cut flower import, followed by dendrobium from Thailand, and dianthus from Colombia.
• The most common type of insects found in cut flower imports are miner flies

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.