Flowers purchased from abroad for Mother’s Day were hastily checked by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists—trained experts in U.S. import violations—at Los Angeles International Airport to ensure they were delivered in time for the holiday, reported the agency.
According to a May 10 press release, 80 percent of cut flowers sold in the U.S. are brought in from outside the country. The flowers they inspected are specifically from South America, Netherlands, Thailand, and Austria.
The top three most common flowers imported are roses, tulips, and orchids, said the border protection agency.
Agents checked to be sure the flowers were free of invasive pests and diseases that could harm the U.S. agricultural industry and economy….