Colombia is the world’s second-largest flower exporter behind the Netherlands. The South American nation exports around 500 million flowers to the US for Valentine’s Day, according to the Colombia Flower Growers Association.
![Colombia sends 76% of its production to the US. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WOEG5QOYNMJV7BMI4NNX4RIXDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf8b522003b8934f48bae32fc059c1d9be53e25fa7b6fed923ed782d35174ad7&width=400&height=225)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZVWP7AW6HFKC2PLBTABLGX3IRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5b9c3f3cf750c43991240f138a25bc7393cbfd62a3a6e0ca7c60bdd97c838d2&width=400&height=225)
![Airline LAN workers organise boxes of flowers to be exported ahead of Valentine’s Day in Bogota’s airport. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WJXKOROX5SWQVFFFXX4HHM4V7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=82140b091367b002593028e3392bf51fd990ee8826a676c9172759a507e1e36f&width=400&height=225)
![Colombian roses are selected for a bouquet ahead of Valentine’s Day in Subachoque. John Vizcaino / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YJ7OCY47TJRASJSUAG26A6QNOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=41da6ae5edffb853b5022425f392cba7763abb21df5d215fccb1342bba9d562a&width=400&height=225)
![A Colombian flower grower organises bouquets. Picture taken January 29, 2015. John Vizcaino / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WIY6DZXWIQ2HDUU4MD53ISJIQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb51d79dffc9037ebea47842c1ce251028a6a397347ea2ca9b268e83591385bc&width=400&height=225)
![Colombia is the world’s second-largest flower exporter behind the Netherlands. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICW2EKF5TV7OTBBX6WZXMDBPG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1abfd42a62bf8d29be6ab9897faf609616e037961dd1ec8e563641d045d440e2&width=400&height=225)
![Workers prepare roses for export at a farm in Nemocon, Cundinamarca department, Colombia. The Valentine’s season represents 12% of the annual sales for Colombian flower growers. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YFL3COAUQTFKRAFI3JDMRTA3GM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b85fc003176f59ce6068c2a90740c968ba8740a3e685918392a338c7fd41b9c5&width=400&height=225)
![No less than 500 million of stems will be exported for the upcoming celebration mainly to the United States. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3GGIH55RXUHTMVA53A2KP3A7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0d0e5a20971a80423574f4c37a9ac5348a17769c77757abbe08892a100f7839&width=400&height=225)
![A Colombian flower grower cuts roses. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGGX4XUZITB5KBHREBE2XNNGSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=edbb91060fe8864949dfe793e3fc843ae4987d0f8eed6534c20d7ebf08b1c3d5&width=400&height=225)
![A Colombian flower grower selects roses. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AZXRR3MQYGKRVCZFMYH4TXQREU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d321b19fd4ca1db495c3b32ee520bf2eb4ce6b7b46fd2554a7352d7cae906972&width=400&height=225)
![Colombia sends 76% of its production to the US. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WOEG5QOYNMJV7BMI4NNX4RIXDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf8b522003b8934f48bae32fc059c1d9be53e25fa7b6fed923ed782d35174ad7&width=400&height=225)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZVWP7AW6HFKC2PLBTABLGX3IRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5b9c3f3cf750c43991240f138a25bc7393cbfd62a3a6e0ca7c60bdd97c838d2&width=400&height=225)
![Airline LAN workers organise boxes of flowers to be exported ahead of Valentine’s Day in Bogota’s airport. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WJXKOROX5SWQVFFFXX4HHM4V7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=82140b091367b002593028e3392bf51fd990ee8826a676c9172759a507e1e36f&width=400&height=225)
![Colombian roses are selected for a bouquet ahead of Valentine’s Day in Subachoque. John Vizcaino / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YJ7OCY47TJRASJSUAG26A6QNOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=41da6ae5edffb853b5022425f392cba7763abb21df5d215fccb1342bba9d562a&width=400&height=225)
![A Colombian flower grower organises bouquets. Picture taken January 29, 2015. John Vizcaino / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WIY6DZXWIQ2HDUU4MD53ISJIQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb51d79dffc9037ebea47842c1ce251028a6a397347ea2ca9b268e83591385bc&width=400&height=225)
![Colombia is the world’s second-largest flower exporter behind the Netherlands. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICW2EKF5TV7OTBBX6WZXMDBPG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1abfd42a62bf8d29be6ab9897faf609616e037961dd1ec8e563641d045d440e2&width=400&height=225)
![Workers prepare roses for export at a farm in Nemocon, Cundinamarca department, Colombia. The Valentine’s season represents 12% of the annual sales for Colombian flower growers. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YFL3COAUQTFKRAFI3JDMRTA3GM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b85fc003176f59ce6068c2a90740c968ba8740a3e685918392a338c7fd41b9c5&width=400&height=225)
![No less than 500 million of stems will be exported for the upcoming celebration mainly to the United States. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3GGIH55RXUHTMVA53A2KP3A7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0d0e5a20971a80423574f4c37a9ac5348a17769c77757abbe08892a100f7839&width=400&height=225)
![A Colombian flower grower cuts roses. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGGX4XUZITB5KBHREBE2XNNGSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=edbb91060fe8864949dfe793e3fc843ae4987d0f8eed6534c20d7ebf08b1c3d5&width=400&height=225)
![A Colombian flower grower selects roses. Jose Miguel Gomez / Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AZXRR3MQYGKRVCZFMYH4TXQREU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d321b19fd4ca1db495c3b32ee520bf2eb4ce6b7b46fd2554a7352d7cae906972&width=400&height=225)
![Colombia sends 76% of its production to the US. Eitan Abramovich / AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WOEG5QOYNMJV7BMI4NNX4RIXDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf8b522003b8934f48bae32fc059c1d9be53e25fa7b6fed923ed782d35174ad7&width=400&height=225)
Valentine’s Day business is rosy in Colombia — in pictures
Liz Claus
February 13, 2015
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