see also: in May 2008:   Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol Announces State of the Agency   CBP Celebrates Significant Occasions at Advanced Training Center in West Virginia   CBP to Issue New Frequent Traveler Cards   Ecstasy and Methamphetamine Seized at Ambassador Bridge   CBP Races to Secure NASCAR’s Monster Mile   CBP Air and Marine Agents Interdict Migrants in Florida at the Start of Memorial Day Weekend   Border Patrol Agents Rescue 51 Illegal Aliens from Tractor Trailer ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

New York – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are making sure that the bouquets of flowers you order for your mother or other favorite females this Mother’s Day are free from insects, pests, and diseases that could harm the agricultural and floral industries in the United States.

In 2007, CBP agriculture specialists at JFK International Airport inspected over 81 thousand shipments of imported fresh cut flowers and intercepted 5,332 plant pests within these shipments.

New York’s JFK ranked second, after Miami, among U.S. international airports for shipments of cut flower imports in 2007; Los Angeles is third.

Whether it’s rare orchids from Thailand or tulips from the Netherlands – the two leading types of cut flowers imported at JFK in 2007 – or flowers from Italy, Israel and France, it is the job of the CBP agriculture specialist to carefully inspect them before they get to the florist, the grocery store, or the sidewalk stand. CBP agriculture specialists are specially trained to examine flowers, plants and fresh herbs for signs of insects, pests or diseases. When shipments are contaminated with pests, they are returned to the country of origin, fumigated, or destroyed.

For travelers, CBP recommends that people who wish to bring in flowers, plant materials and other agricultural items, consult the CBP website “Know Before You Go” section on CBP.gov/travel in advance of any trip.

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.