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While Cupid might get the credit on Valentine's Day, the real action happens in a bustling warehouse at Miami International Airport.

In the weeks leading up to February 14, the South Florida hub will process nearly 990 million stems of cut flowers, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

Miami handles around 90% of the fresh cut flowers sold in the United States for Valentine's Day, with the remaining 10% passing through Los Angeles, US News reported.

Roses, carnations, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, pompons, and gypsophila arrive on hundreds of flights, mainly from Colombia and Ecuador, before heading to florists and supermarkets across the US and Canada.

Avianca Cargo, based in Medellín, Colombia, is the largest flower importer at Miami Airport. CEO Diogo Elias said the company is transporting about 19,000 tons of flowers on 320 cargo flights ahead of Valentine's Day — more than double their usual schedule.

"We fly flowers for the whole year, but Valentine's is special," Elias said. "Much more concentrated on roses, red roses especially. More than 50-60% are red roses at this time."

Miami Airport Preps 400,000 Tons of Flowers

Consumers should expect higher prices this year, according to Christine Boldt, executive vice president for the Association of Floral Importers of America.

"This adds significant dollars to the bouquets that are coming in. Every consumer is gonna have to face additional costs," she said, citing last year's tariffs on imports from Colombia and Ecuador, along with a new minimum wage in Colombia.

Despite the price increase, flowers remain one of Miami International Airport's largest imports.

According to AP, Airport director Ralph Cutié said the facility handled nearly 3.5 million tons of cargo last year, with flowers accounting for roughly 400,000 tons.

More than a quarter of those flowers are shipped before Valentine's Day, marking a 6% increase from last year.

"The mother, the wife, the girlfriend in Omaha, Nebraska, that gets their flowers for either Valentine's or Mother's Day, chances are those flowers passed through our airport," Cutié said.

Ensuring the blooms are safe, CBP agriculture specialists inspect each shipment for harmful plant pests and foreign animal diseases. "On average, inspectors find about 40-50 plant pests a day, the most common being moths," said CBP senior official Daniel Alonso.

Pests are then turned over to the US Department of Agriculture for assessment. "Our rigorous process is vital to safeguarding the floral and agricultural industries, ensuring that our imported flowers are not introducing any pests or harmful diseases," Alonso added.

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Valentine's Day