In late October, Prime Airport Services Inc., a ground cargo handler at Miami International Airport, has pled guilty to two counts of importing plants and plant pests, in violation of the Plant Protection Act.
Immediately after the plea, U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro sentenced Prime Airport Services to a $1 million fine. The conviction of Prime Airport Services represents the first felony case for violation of the Plant Protection Act nationwide.
On May 7, 2006, Customs and Border Protection detected the pest coleoptera on 198 kilograms of imported hydrangeas in the custody of Prime Airport Services and put the flowers on hold. Despite the hold, Prime Airport Services released the pest-laden hydrangeas to their buyer.
Latest from Nursery Management
- Voting now open for the National Garden Bureau's 2026 Green Thumb Award Winners
- Sam Hoadley talks about Mt. Cuba Center's latest evaluation of Solidago sp. for the Mid-Atlantic region
- [WATCH] Betting big on Burro: Kawahara Nurseries' roadmap for scaling to a 12-robot fleet
- Weed Control Report
- New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association announces annual awards
- Star Roses and Plants announces restructure of woody ornamentals team
- New Michigan box tree moth alert available in English and Spanish
- The Growth Industry Episode 8: From NFL guard to expert gardener with Chuck Hutchison
