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Every May, many people in the United States buy flowers for Mother’s Day. Most of these flowers come from one country — Colombia.
Colombia is a country in South America. It sends more than $2 billion worth of flowers to other countries every year. This makes Colombia the second-biggest flower exporter in the world. Only the Netherlands exports more.
About 80% of Colombia’s flowers go to the United States. So, if you buy flowers for Mother’s Day in the U.S., they most likely come from Colombia.
A report from 2024 said that in just 21 days, over 400 flights from Colombia and Ecuador carried about 24,000 tonnes of flowers to the U.S. That’s about 552 million flower stems!
But this year, flowers from Colombia may be more expensive in the U.S. This is because of inflation (when prices go up) and a new 10% tax on Colombian goods.
An expert says, “We cannot keep flowers fresh for a long time. They must be cut and used quickly. So, this year, people in the U.S. may pay more when they buy flowers.”
How Colombia Became a Flower Power
Before the 1960s, most flowers in the U.S. were grown in California, but they were very expensive. That changed with help from the U.S. government.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy started a plan called the Alliance for Progress. It gave $100 billion to help countries in Latin America, including Colombia. One big goal was to grow the economy and stop the spread of communism.
Colombia became an important part of this plan. One job was to help Colombia grow its agriculture, especially flowers.
In 1961, President Kennedy visited Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. About 1.5 million people came to see him. A neighborhood in Bogotá is still named after him.
In 1965, a man named Edgar Wells sent the first big shipment of flowers from Bogotá to Miami, U.S.A. He called Colombia’s flower business the new “El Dorado,” which means a place of great riches.
During the 1970s, air travel got better. It was easier to fly flowers from Colombia to the U.S. The Andes Mountains gave Colombia great land for growing flowers.
In 1991, Colombia’s flower industry grew again with a law called the Andean Trade Preference Act. It let Colombia sell flowers to the U.S. without paying extra taxes. Even today, Colombia sends billions of flowers to the U.S. every year.
Where Colombia’s Flowers Grow
Colombia has many beautiful places to grow flowers. One special place is called Facatativá. It is near the city of Bogotá. This area is in the Andes Mountains, on a high, flat area with good weather and soil.
Because of this, many farms grow flowers there. About 73% of Colombia’s flowers come from this area. Another 24% come from around the city of Medellín, in the north of the country.
Since 1957, Medellín has had a big flower festival every year. It is called the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival). This is the biggest cultural event in Medellín.
People call Medellín the “city of eternal spring” because the weather is always nice. Every August, the city becomes full of color, flowers, music, and parades.
One famous part of the festival is the silleteros parade. In this parade, men carry large flower displays on their backs. These displays are called silletas.
Long ago, people used silletas to carry food or other things from the mountains to the cities. Today, the silletas carry beautiful flowers. The flower displays show pictures of Colombian history and culture.
Flower Markets in Colombia
During the flower festival in Medellín, people can see amazing flower art in the parade. The men who carry flowers are called silleteros. They make beautiful flower pictures and walk with them through the streets.
But the festival is not the only way to enjoy flowers in Colombia.
Many people visit flower markets in cities all over the country. These are places where people buy and sell flowers.
One popular market is the Placita de Flóres in Medellín. Farmers bring their flowers there to sell. People can also buy fruits and vegetables at the market.
Another famous market is the Mercado de Paloquemao in Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. There are many kinds of flowers to see and buy.
Some flower farms also welcome visitors. People can come to the farms and see where the flowers grow. They can also meet the farmers who take care of the flowers.
This helps visitors understand the hard work and love that goes into growing flowers. It also helps support the local people who grow them.
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Flower – A colorful plant.
Example: I gave my mom a flower.
Colombia – A country in South America.
Example: Many flowers come from Colombia.
Mother’s Day – A special day to celebrate mothers.
Example: We buy flowers for Mother’s Day.
Farmer – A person who grows food or flowers.
Example: The farmer works in the flower field.
Field – Open land where things grow.
Example: The flowers grow in the field.
Export – To send things to another country.
Example: Colombia exports flowers to the U.S.
Festival – A fun public celebration.
Example: Colombia has a flower festival.
Market – A place to buy and sell things.
Example: I bought flowers at the market.
Fresh – New and clean.
Example: These flowers are fresh and smell good.
Garden – A place where plants grow.
Example: My mother has a small flower garden.
Colorful – Full of bright colors.
Example: The flower parade is very colorful.
Airplane – A flying vehicle.
Example: Flowers travel by airplane to the U.S.
Parade – A public event with music and people.
Example: The flower parade is in Medellín.
City – A large town.
Example: Bogotá is a big city in Colombia.
Mountain – A high area of land.
Example: The flowers grow near the mountains.
Work – To do a job.
Example: Many people work on flower farms.
Gift – Something you give to someone.
Example: Flowers are a nice gift for moms.
Day – 24 hours; morning to night.
Example: Mother’s Day is one special day.
Holiday – A special day for celebration.
Example: Mother’s Day is a family holiday.
Plant – A living thing that grows in the ground.
Example: A flower is a type of plant.