Colombia Flowers Prepared, Shipped Overseas

Flowers are prepared for shipment at Elite Flower's plantation outside of Bogotá then loaded onto planes at the Colombian capital's El Dorado airport. 

The pre-Valentine’s Day ritual, which sends 12 percent of Colombia’s annual flower output abroad in less than two weeks, mostly to the U.S., is running more smoothly than in past years. 

As part of a $1 billion renovation, Latin America’s busiest cargo airport is doubling its capacity, making it easier to handle a surge in shipments forecast by cargo companies as a free-trade agreement with the U.S. is to take effect as soon as this year.