Ethylene generators provide a controlled source of ethylene for commercial fruit ripening and degreening. Catalytic systems offer a practical alternative to pressurised gas cylinders for ripening bananas, citrus, tomatoes, mangoes and other fresh produce.
Ethylene Generator
About This Category
Achieving consistent ripening across a batch of fresh produce requires careful control of the ripening environment. Ethylene generators are used in ripening rooms to produce ethylene in controlled quantities, helping operators manage the ripening process and achieve more uniform results.
Ethylene is a naturally occurring plant hormone involved in the ripening of many fruits. In commercial post-harvest operations, controlled exposure can be used to initiate and manage ripening in climacteric fruits such as bananas, tomatoes and mangoes. Ethylene is also used in the degreening of citrus fruit, where it helps accelerate the breakdown of green chlorophyll in the peel.
A catalytic ethylene generator produces ethylene from a specially formulated liquid concentrate rather than supplying the gas from a pressurised cylinder. This approach can simplify handling and operation within commercial ripening facilities while providing a consistent source of ethylene for the treatment process.
The generator forms only one part of an effective ripening system. Temperature, relative humidity, ventilation, air circulation, ethylene concentration and exposure time all influence the process and should be managed according to the type of produce and the required ripening programme.
Monitoring environmental conditions is therefore particularly important during controlled ripening. Our temperature and humidity data loggers can provide recorded environmental data throughout the process. You can also browse our fruit firmness testers for assessing firmness and maturity during produce quality control.
