The United States has imported 500 million Colombian flowers for St Valentines Day, which producers hope will revive their fortunes, reported Radio Caracol Monday.
The figure was given by President of Asocolflores Augusto Solano, who was being interviewed ahead of the last Valentines shipment, due to leave Colombia within 24 hours.
Solano said that, after cold weather had affected the production of many flower farms, Valentines Day is critical to the well being of the industry.
Colombia is one of the four biggest flower producing countries, alongside the Netherlands, Kenya and Ecuador.
The four countries have an 83% share of the world’s $100 billion per year industry.