In North America and Europe, the usual banana ripening process requires specialised ripening chambers. Bananas are harvested green, transported green, and arrive at distribution centres in palletised boxes.
These boxes are placed in pressurised ripening chambers, where:
- the temperature is precisely controlled,
- ethylene is applied to initiate the ripening process,
- and air flow is regulated during the so-called ripening cycle, which usually lasts between 4 and 7 days (most commonly 5 days).
Various marketing studies have shown that proper ripening has a direct impact on sales:
- Colour 5 (yellow with green tips) → +33% sales compared to green fruit.
- Colour 4 (more yellow than green) → +25% sales.
Even so, many wholesalers continue to deliver fruit that is too green in order to ‘gain shelf life’. The result is the opposite:
the fruit stays on the shelf too long, darkens before ripening properly, and ends up being discarded.
Optimising the ripening cycle allows bananas to be delivered in colour 4 or 5, with excellent shelf life at the point of sale and greater consumer satisfaction. This is part of the type of processes we work on within our consulting services.
Key Factors for Effective Ripening
Proper control of the following elements ensures uniform ripening and good shelf life at retail:
Fruit Temperature in the Ripening Room
A stable and appropriate temperature allows the biochemical process to progress correctly without excessively accelerating senescence.
Ethylene Application
Ethylene must be distributed evenly to activate ripening in a controlled and uniform manner.
Relative Humidity
Adequate humidity reduces dehydration and prevents defects such as premature spotting or browning.
Color Uniformity: Key to Preventing Losses
One of the most common causes of lost sales is color inconsistency, either within the same box or between different boxes. This lack of uniformity creates a poor visual appearance at the point of sale and reduces product turnover.
To achieve optimal uniformity, it is essential to control:
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Ethylene concentration
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Air volume
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Airflow through the boxes
Projects that optimize these factors typically show direct improvements in turnover, visual appeal, and margins, as demonstrated in several of our case studies.
Result: More Sales, Faster Turnover, Higher Profitability
By integrating both aspects — achieving the right color at the point of sale and ensuring color uniformity — the following results can be achieved:
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Significant sales increases (25–33%)
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Faster shelf rotation
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Reduced fruit waste
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Higher margins for producers and distributors
To analyze how to optimize ripening within your supply chain, you can contact our team through the contact page.
FruitProfits is a consulting firm specialized in value processes, marketing, and technology for fruit and vegetable production, operating across the European Union, North Africa, and Latin America.