Fresh Cut Flowers from Colombia

Post-harvest preparation of fresh cut flowers from Colombia

Fresh Cut Flower Production: Colombia

Colombia, located in northwestern South America, is one of the largest producers and exporters of fresh cut flowers in the world.  Sun King Flowers proudly partners with award winning farms and facilities located in Colombia in order to bring you the highest quality wholesale flowers grown and harvested year round under ideal conditions.

Read below to learn more about Colombia’s fresh cut flower industry, its impact on the economy, and how it directly relates to you as a consumer.

Colombia’s fresh cut flower production was valued at approximately $642 million in 2001.  Fresh cut flowers were produced on 5,630 hectares in 2001 on more than 500 farms.  Most of Colombia’s fresh cut flower production is located around Bogota, with small production areas in the Rionegro and Antioquia regions around Medellin and Cali.  Roses, standard and miniature carnations, and chrysanthemums account for almost 80 percent of Colombian production and exports.

Colombia has ideal growing conditions for cut flowers, abundant labor and land, and high light levels, giving it a production cost advantage over U.S. producers.  Relatively low investment costs and a cooperative local government have contributed to the flourishing of Colombia’s cut flower industry.

Colombia was the second largest exporter in the world in 2001 and exported about 95 percent of its cut flower production, primarily to the United States and the EU.  The Colombian cut flower industry was developed in the late 1960s specifically as an export business, replacing traditional small-scale agricultural production.  In 2001, Colombian producers exported more than $610 million worth of flowers.

The United States was the destination for about 80 percent of Colombian exports during the period 1997-2001.  The EU was the destination for about 12 percent of Colombia’s exports.  Flowers destined for the United States are transported in 35,000 boxes on 20 daily flights into Miami International Airport.  The industry employs approximately 79,000 people directly involved in production and another 75,000 indirectly in shipping, packaging, and other services.  The largest cost component of production is labor, representing 30 percent of the cost of the final product.

Cut flowers accounted for 5 percent of the value of total Colombian exports and contributed 3 percent to the Colombian gross domestic product in 2001.  (USITC.gov – pub 3580)