Roses are … Brown?
Press Release
Atlanta, February 4, 2004 – We know Valentine's Day means roses but most of us don't know where those roses come from or how they get to the store or florist. Test your flower power with the following quiz from UPS, the Brown transportation company that just might be importing your red roses this Valentine's Day.
1. Where do most Valentine's Day roses sold in the United States come from?
a. California
b. Europe
c. Hawaii
d. South America
Answer: d. Although a lot of flowers stem from California, Hawaii and many European nations, most Valentine's Day roses found in the United States were grown in South American nations, particularly Colombia and Ecuador. In fact, most flowers you buy at any time of the year were grown overseas. According to the Society of American Florists, 70 percent of all cut flowers sold in the United States are imported. UPS alone imported nearly seven million pounds of roses for Valentine's Day last year.
Don't wilt if you didn't get this correct! According to UPS's own survey, almost 90 percent of Americans think Valentine's Day flowers sold in the United States come from somewhere other than South America or aren't sure where they're grown.
2. About how many flo wers are sold in the United States for Valentine's Day ?
a. 15 million
b. 60 million
c. 130 million
d. 510 million
Answer: c. According to the Society of American Florists, 130 million flowers were sold in the United States for Valentine's Day, 2003. UPS delivers many of these flowers to wholesalers, florists and consumers around the country.
3. To make sure roses arrive fresh, how quickly must they reach their destination?
a. 1 day
b. 2-3 days
c. 4-5 days
d. 6-7 days
e. 8-9 days f. 10 days or more
Answer: c. In UPS's own survey, 47 percent of Americans believe it takes 2-3 days for flowers to make the trip from farm to a store near you. It actually takes roughly 4-5 days depending on destination, season and type of flower (roses, for example, are more delicate and need to move faster).
For UPS's part, it takes less than 24 hours to ship fresh cut flowers from farm to Miami-based flower importers. This travel time includes U.S. Customs and Department of Agriculture clearance since most cut flowers come from South and Central America.
4. At what temperatures must Valentine's Day roses be kept to guarantee freshness?
a. 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above
b. 30-40 degrees
c. 20-30 degrees
Answer: b. Roses must stay between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. UPS flies them into the United States in refrigerated cargo planes, holds them in coolers on the ground as they clear U.S. Customs and the Department of Agriculture, where importers' refrigerated trucks pick them up within hours of being cleared.
5. Into which U.S. port do most Valentine's Day roses arrive?
a. Miami
b. New York City
c. Los Angeles
d. New Orleans
Answer: a. Approximately 85 percent of all flowers destined for the United States clear customs at Miami International Airport, due to the city's close proximity to Latin America and its special cargo handling facilities. UPS is the largest air cargo carrier at Miami International Airport .
6. When does the rush period for wholesale Valentine's Day roses start?
a. Jan. 2
b. Jan 23
c. Feb. 1
d. Feb. 13
Answer: b. Valentine's Day “peak season†blooms from January 23 to February 12. This year, UPS will increase the number of flights by more than 50 percent to handle the increased volume. This year's peak days for flower importing are February 7, 8 and 9.
7. What percent of roses purchased for Valentine's Day are red?
a. 90-100 percent
b. 80-90 percent
c. 70-80 percent
d. 60-70 percent
e. Less than 60 percent
Answer: d. About 66 percent of roses purchased for Valentine's Day are red, according to the Society of American Florists. Of the remaining Valentine's Day roses that consumers buy, 10 percent are a mix of colored roses, 9 percent are pink, 5 percent are peach, 4 percent are yellow, 1 percent are white and 2 percent are other colors.
“The Valentine's Day peak season is a great way to illustrate what UPS can do for customers internationally,†said Steve Flowers (his real name), president, UPS Americas. “On the cargo side, we can manage the entire path from producer to wholesaler, including customs clearance. On the express side we can manage transportation to final delivery including tracking. And, for customers like 1-800-flowers.com, for example, we can combine those strengths for a truly unique producer-to-end-user service.â€
For more Valentine's Day flower statistics, go to aboutflowers.com.
About UPS
UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS), and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com.
###
For More Information Contact:
John Wheeler
UPS
404-828-6463
Rebecca Treacy-Lenda
UPS
404-828-8396
Press Release
Atlanta, February 4, 2004 – We know Valentine's Day means roses but most of us don't know where those roses come from or how they get to the store or florist. Test your flower power with the following quiz from UPS, the Brown transportation company that just might be importing your red roses this Valentine's Day.
1. Where do most Valentine's Day roses sold in the United States come from?
a. California
b. Europe
c. Hawaii
d. South America
Answer: d. Although a lot of flowers stem from California, Hawaii and many European nations, most Valentine's Day roses found in the United States were grown in South American nations, particularly Colombia and Ecuador. In fact, most flowers you buy at any time of the year were grown overseas. According to the Society of American Florists, 70 percent of all cut flowers sold in the United States are imported. UPS alone imported nearly seven million pounds of roses for Valentine's Day last year.
Don't wilt if you didn't get this correct! According to UPS's own survey, almost 90 percent of Americans think Valentine's Day flowers sold in the United States come from somewhere other than South America or aren't sure where they're grown.
2. About how many flo wers are sold in the United States for Valentine's Day ?
a. 15 million
b. 60 million
c. 130 million
d. 510 million
Answer: c. According to the Society of American Florists, 130 million flowers were sold in the United States for Valentine's Day, 2003. UPS delivers many of these flowers to wholesalers, florists and consumers around the country.
3. To make sure roses arrive fresh, how quickly must they reach their destination?
a. 1 day
b. 2-3 days
c. 4-5 days
d. 6-7 days
e. 8-9 days f. 10 days or more
Answer: c. In UPS's own survey, 47 percent of Americans believe it takes 2-3 days for flowers to make the trip from farm to a store near you. It actually takes roughly 4-5 days depending on destination, season and type of flower (roses, for example, are more delicate and need to move faster).
For UPS's part, it takes less than 24 hours to ship fresh cut flowers from farm to Miami-based flower importers. This travel time includes U.S. Customs and Department of Agriculture clearance since most cut flowers come from South and Central America.
4. At what temperatures must Valentine's Day roses be kept to guarantee freshness?
a. 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above
b. 30-40 degrees
c. 20-30 degrees
Answer: b. Roses must stay between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. UPS flies them into the United States in refrigerated cargo planes, holds them in coolers on the ground as they clear U.S. Customs and the Department of Agriculture, where importers' refrigerated trucks pick them up within hours of being cleared.
5. Into which U.S. port do most Valentine's Day roses arrive?
a. Miami
b. New York City
c. Los Angeles
d. New Orleans
Answer: a. Approximately 85 percent of all flowers destined for the United States clear customs at Miami International Airport, due to the city's close proximity to Latin America and its special cargo handling facilities. UPS is the largest air cargo carrier at Miami International Airport .
6. When does the rush period for wholesale Valentine's Day roses start?
a. Jan. 2
b. Jan 23
c. Feb. 1
d. Feb. 13
Answer: b. Valentine's Day “peak season†blooms from January 23 to February 12. This year, UPS will increase the number of flights by more than 50 percent to handle the increased volume. This year's peak days for flower importing are February 7, 8 and 9.
7. What percent of roses purchased for Valentine's Day are red?
a. 90-100 percent
b. 80-90 percent
c. 70-80 percent
d. 60-70 percent
e. Less than 60 percent
Answer: d. About 66 percent of roses purchased for Valentine's Day are red, according to the Society of American Florists. Of the remaining Valentine's Day roses that consumers buy, 10 percent are a mix of colored roses, 9 percent are pink, 5 percent are peach, 4 percent are yellow, 1 percent are white and 2 percent are other colors.
“The Valentine's Day peak season is a great way to illustrate what UPS can do for customers internationally,†said Steve Flowers (his real name), president, UPS Americas. “On the cargo side, we can manage the entire path from producer to wholesaler, including customs clearance. On the express side we can manage transportation to final delivery including tracking. And, for customers like 1-800-flowers.com, for example, we can combine those strengths for a truly unique producer-to-end-user service.â€
For more Valentine's Day flower statistics, go to aboutflowers.com.
About UPS
UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS), and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com.
###
For More Information Contact:
John Wheeler
UPS
404-828-6463
Rebecca Treacy-Lenda
UPS
404-828-8396
