Beyond bananas - why precision is becoming the new standard in fruit ripening
Fruit consumption in Australia depends not only on supply, but on achieving consistent quality at the right stage of ripeness, making postharvest ripening critical.
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Bananas have long defined ripening operations in the country, remaining central to the market, with Australians eating more than 5 million bananas every day as reported by the Australian Banana Growers Council.
Delivering this volume requires reliable, tightly managed ripening processes.
However, the market is evolving, with avocados emerging as a fast-growing category, reaching 4.74 kg per person in 2024/25, according to Avocados Australia.
At the same time, citrus remains a key segment within Australian horticulture, where appearance and uniform colour are essential to meet both domestic retail and export standards as highlighted by Citrus Australia.
Ensuring consistent volumes and quality is increasingly complex – placing ripening at the centre of performance.
A market shaped by retail pressure
Ripening systems in Australia operate within a highly structured, retailer-driven environment, where consistency and timing are critical, requiring high-quality outcomes while controlling costs.
“The Australian ripening market is highly consolidated and driven by retailer standards and supports both major retailers and smaller operators,” Catalytic Generators’ Australian distributor Leigh Cummin explains.
“Consistency, shelf life and presentation are non-negotiable,” he says.
“Today, our technology is used in approximately 250 ripening rooms across key locations including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.
“This footprint also extends into dedicated citrus degreening rooms in regional areas, reflecting strong adoption across the banana, avocado and citrus sectors.
“Our presence across both regional and metropolitan facilities highlights the scalability and reliability of the system, supporting a wide range of operators – from major distribution hubs to specialised ripening and de-greening facilities,” he adds.
Different fruits, different ripening challenges
While bananas dominate volumes, the most significant changes are driven by categories such as avocados and citrus, which require more precise ripening approaches.
Beyond these core segments, ripening is also expanding into applications such as tomatoes and capsicums.
Avocados are pushing operations towards greater precision, particularly in ready-to-eat programs, where accurate control of softening minimises defects and waste.
Citrus, although representing a smaller share of ripening activity, plays an important role in meeting expectations around appearance, requiring uniform colour without compromising fruit integrity.
“Operators need more control, greater consistency and less risk,” Leigh adds.
Where operational pressure meets precision
Operating in this environment means constant pressure across the ripening process.
Australian operators must meet strict retail specifications while managing long supply chains where timing is critical.
Variability in raw fruit – driven by climate and origin – adds further complexity, particularly in bananas and mangoes.
Combined with rising labour and energy costs, this leaves little margin for error.
“Every rejected carton hits your margin,” Leigh says.
Delivering measurable results through controlled ripening
In this context, controlled ethylene application plays a central role in delivering consistency.
Systems such as Catalytic Generators’ Easy-Ripe technology, using Ethy-Gen II concentrate, deliver stable, automated ethylene levels tailored to each fruit category, eliminating manual adjustments and guesswork.
“Our goal is to make ethylene the easiest part of the ripening process, so operators can focus on their customers and growth,” Catalytic Generators president Greg Akins explains.
For bananas, this means uniform colour across pallets. In avocados, precise control ensures predictable softening for ready-to-eat programs. In citrus, accurate application supports effective degreening while preserving fruit integrity.
The commercial impact is clear: reduced shrink, higher pack-out rates and more predictable cycles.
One example is Australian Produce Partners, working closely with fresh produce growers across multiple regions in north Queensland and supplying major retailers across Australia year-round.
“With Catalytic Generators’ system, we’ve been able to achieve much more consistent ripening results, which has made a real difference in reducing waste and improving overall quality,” Australian Produce Partners managing director Richard Clayton explains.
Simplicity, safety and local support
Beyond process control, simplicity and reliability are key decision factors.
Generator-based systems eliminate the need for high-pressure gas cylinders, reducing risk while simplifying operations.
In markets such as Australia, where logistics and response times are essential, local technical support and fast service also play a decisive role.
“Initially, we had concerns about implementing a new system in our existing facilities, as well as service and raw material availability,” Greg adds.
“However, Catalytic Generators Australia has ensured we have not missed a beat, delivering a worry-free solution,” he adds.
Reliable local support is therefore critical to maintaining uninterrupted ripening operations.
“Fast service and on-site support are essential to helping customers succeed in the Australian market.”
The next step: smarter, data-driven ripening
The industry is moving towards more automated, data-driven environments.
Technologies such as SmartRipe monitoring enable remote control and real-time optimisation, allowing operators to respond to variability in supply and demand.
As ripening becomes more integrated within the supply chain, precision, visibility and adaptability will be key to maintaining performance.