PEACHTREE CITY, USA – Every May, millions of flowers make their way to moms across the United States for Mother’s Day—and most of them originate from one key region. So where do these flowers come from?
The answer, largely, is Colombia. The country dominates the global flower export market, shipping more than $2 billion worth of cut flowers annually and second only to the Netherlands in overall production.
Approximately 75% of Colombia’s flower exports—valued at well over $1.6 billion—are destined for the U.S., making it the primary source behind many of the Mother’s Day bouquets.
The scale of this seasonal operation is remarkable. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, airlines ramp up cargo capacity to meet demand. LATAM Airlines alone operates hundreds of dedicated cargo flights from Colombia and neighboring Ecuador, transporting tens of thousands of tons of fresh flowers—amounting to hundreds of millions of individual stems.
This coordinated logistics effort ensures that fresh blooms arrive on time, highlighting the critical role of global air cargo in connecting growers with consumers worldwide.
