Experts predict even more dramatic changes for the fruit’s supply network, as rapid market growth continues
Consumer demand for ready-to-eat avocados has transformed the way the fresh produce industry approaches ripening. What was once considered a specialist service has become an essential part of the supply chain, helping growers, importers, ripeners and retailers deliver fruit with consistent quality, predictable ripeness and reduced waste.
This evolution reflects remarkable growth in the global avocado market. According to the latest OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook, avocados are expected to remain the fastest-growing major tropical fruit over the next decade, with global production projected to reach around 16mn tonnes by 2035.
The report also predicts avocados will become the world’s most traded major tropical fruit by 2035, driven by rising demand in the US, Europe, and other high-income markets.
As avocado consumption continues to rise in North America, Europe, Latin America and Australia, commercial ripening programmes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, combining a deeper understanding of fruit physiology with reliable ethylene application and modern ripening technologies.
Success based on knowledge
One of the key challenges in commercial avocado ripening is that no two batches behave in exactly the same way. Factors such as production region, maturity at harvest, time off the tree, shipping conditions, and previous postharvest treatments all influence how the fruit responds.
“Successful avocado ripening starts with knowing the fruit: where it comes from, how long it has been off the tree, its maturity, shipping conditions and any postharvest treatments”
According to Mary Lu Arpaia, cooperative extension specialist at the University of California, avocado ripening has evolved significantly over the years. Whereas traditionally it was carried out at packhouses, today it increasingly takes place at retail and wholesale distribution centres.
Advances in ripening room technology, temperature management, carbon dioxide control and ethylene application have made it possible to deliver more consistent fruit quality closer to the point of sale. And because ripe avocados can be particularly fragile, that shift also helps to reduce handling after ripening, better preserving fruit quality until it reaches consumers.
For Arpaia, understanding these variables is the starting point for delivering consistent fruit quality. “Successful avocado ripening starts with knowing the fruit: where it comes from, how long it has been off the tree, its maturity, shipping conditions and any postharvest treatments,” she says. “Ethylene application helps reduce fruit-to-fruit variability, shorten ripening time, and deliver a more uniform product to the end user.”
Ultimately, successful avocado ripening is never the result of a single factor. It depends on understanding the fruit, well-managed ripening conditions, and reliable ethylene application.
Consistency is everything
While understanding the fruit is fundamental, successful avocado ripening also depends on maintaining stable conditions inside the ripening room. For Arpaia, this means considering the entire ripening process.
“An ethylene application system must provide a uniform level of gas at a constant rate and work in tandem with a well-designed ripening room,” she says. “Airflow is equally important to ensure ethylene is distributed evenly throughout the room.”
Greg Akins, president and CEO of Catalytic Generators, agrees that this is key for any commercial ripening operation in the modern market.
“For the fruit to start ripening uniformly and dependably, ripeners need to maintain at least 100ppm of ethylene throughout the application period,” he explains. “Continuous ethylene production helps maintain the required ethylene level, even when minor air leaks occur, and quickly rebuilds them when doors are opened.”
Such insights explain why reliable ethylene application has become a key component of modern ripening programmes for avocados. It is not simply about introducing ethylene into a room, but about maintaining the right concentration, distribution, and consistency throughout the treatment period.
That’s the approach behind Catalytic Generators’ trademarked Easy-Ripe systems, which are designed to provide continuous, reliable ethylene production for commercial ripening operations.
For Akins, this is exactly what customers are looking for today: reliable equipment, repeatable results, trusted service, and people who understand the fresh produce industry.
Specialist service to industry standard
Commercial avocado ripening has changed significantly over the past decade. According to Akins, what was once handled by a limited number of growers and specialist operators has become standard practice across the industry, including at many retail distribution centres.
That transition has been driven by stronger sales, lower shrink, and faster inventory turnover, while helping suppliers consistently deliver fruit that meets consumers’ ready-to-eat expectations.
Across the industry, professionally managed ready-to-eat programmes continue to demonstrate the value of commercial ripening by improving quality consistency, enhancing consumer confidence, and encouraging repeat purchases.
Unlike bananas, however, avocados present additional operational challenges. Once they reach their climacteric peak, they generate substantially more heat. This requires greater cooling capacity and carefully designed airflow to remove the heat of respiration from fruit located at the centre of each pallet.
For ripeners, success depends on managing every stage of the process. Reliable ethylene application must work alongside effective temperature management, carbon dioxide control, and proper airflow to ensure fruit ripens uniformly and reaches the market at the optimum stage of maturity.
Regulatory support for global growth
As commercial avocado ripening continues to expand around the world, regulatory compliance becomes increasingly important. In several countries, ethylene is classified as a regulated plant protection product, which means it requires official registration before it can be commercially applied to fruit.
Catalytic Generators recently obtained approval for avocado ripening in Italy, and continues to expand its international regulatory footprint. These approvals allow customers to be confidsent they are using a legally authorised solution, while supporting the continued growth of commercial ripening programs in new markets.
The future of avocado ripening
Ready-to-eat avocados have become the consumer standard, and the industry continues to evolve to meet growing expectations for quality and consistency.
Akins expects to see more changes ahead: “The next generation of ripening programs will increasingly combine reliable ethylene application with digital tools such as ripeness sensors, remotely monitored ethylene generators, and connected ripening rooms, giving operators greater visibility and control throughout the process.”
Ultimately, successful avocado ripening will continue to depend on the combination of science, technology, and practical experience, as Arpaia emphasizes. “Understanding the fruit remains the foundation of every successful ripening programme. Combined with reliable ethylene application and smarter ripening technologies, this knowledge will help the industry deliver the consistent, ready-to-eat quality that today’s consumers expect.”
