US Customs inspects flood of Valentine’s flowers

That Valentine's Day bouquet may only last on kitchen table for a few days, but it likely arrived after a long, round--world trip from a warmer climate.

US Customs and Border Protection says week before Valentine's Day is one of its busiest times of year for agricultural inspections as millions of flowers arrive by air to meet demand of Valentines across US.

"This is a time that's really special to us," said Ralph Johnson, a supervisory Agricultural Specialist with US Customs and Border Protection.

A JFK International Airport in New York, Johnson says every year y bring in additional specialists from or locations just to meet demand.Around two percent of flowers that arrive at JFK are opened up and combed for prohibited plants, seeds and insects.

Those foreign invaders, y say, could pose a threat to nation's agricultural industry — introducing invasive species that can wreak havoc on environment.On Wednesday before Valentine's Day, Agricultural Specialist Kay Ransom held back several shipments of flowers for furr examination after finding insects.

If those bugs are deemed a prohibited species, entire shipment is eir returned to sender, or incinerated.Johnson says finding just one prohibited item means entire shipment — often worth as much as $100,000 — is rejected.

CBP says between January 1st, and January 25th, it confiscated 542 shipments of agricultural products for containing banned pests, majority of those arriving at Miami International Airport, followed by JFK.

Among discoveries made: Khapra Beetle, which officials say can destroy grain supplies, and White Rust Disease, which is a fungal disease that affects chrysanmums.

In total during that same time period, CBP says it received just under a half billion "stems" of flowers across border.