Colombia's Economy
Flowers for the World
How Colombia became the world's second largest flower exporter after the Netherlands, supplying most US Valentine's Day roses from farms near Bogotá.
Colombia is the world’s second largest flower exporter.
Location
The Bogotá savanna has steady sunlight and cool temperatures at high altitude.
US market
Colombia supplies a majority of cut flowers sold in the US.
Valentine’s Day
Flower farms work flat out before Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
Trade preferences
US trade preferences and the 2012 free trade agreement helped exports.
Jobs
Flower farms employ many women.
Concerns
Pesticide exposure and water use.
Cargo planes carry millions of roses from Bogotá to Miami in the weeks before Valentine's Day.
Colombia supplies most US flowers.
- Colombia is the second largest flower exporter.
- High-altitude Bogotá is ideal.
- It supplies most US cut flowers.
- Farms employ many women.
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