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Back in 1973, banana wholesaler Jerry McDonnell asked that question himself. The standard answer would be to ripen the fruit using a device called a lecture tube, actually a cylinder containing ethylene gas. But McDonnell wasn’t satisfied with that solution because lecture tubes sometimes exploded. He thought there should be a better way to do the job.

So McDonnell collaborated with university researchers and got his wish – the first ethylene generator. He founded Catalytic Generators Inc. and went to work selling the patented invention. Over the years, the generators have improved, and today the company offers several different models and advanced monitoring technology for tomatoes, avocados, citrus, honeydew melons, bananas, mangos and other fruit.

Greg Akins is Catalytic Generators’ president and CEO. He came on board in 1994, joining his father, Gene Akins, who has been with the company since 1979.

“My dad really helped the company to grow by improving the product and marketing it aggressively,” said Greg Akins. Gene is still chairman of the board and is active in the agriculture industry, also serving on the Florida Tomato Exchange.

A safe and easy way to ripen fruit

Ethylene production can be tricky. Amounts required vary from two to about 1,000 parts per million. Several factors influence how much of the gas is needed for the job. Those include the generator setting used, how airtight the room is, frequency of door openings, and room size. Catalytic Generators’ units simplify the process with their adjustable output feature, which adapts to the ethylene requirements of any ripening operation.

“Our product has improved over the years mainly in the area of electronics, so now you get a large amount of feedback from the machine,” said Greg Akins. “Our competition, ethylene cylinders, are pressurized and contain more ethylene than you might need. With our system, you control how much ethylene is produced.”

Catalytic generators are pressureless, making them safe to use. They are listed by Underwriter’s Laboratories®, meaning that UL has found them to be safe from any foreseeable risk of fire, electrical shock and related hazards when used as directed.

Catalytic generators are easy to put to work. They can be used in all ripening rooms that are at least 1,500 cubic feet. (They are not recommended for smaller rooms.) One generator will typically produce enough ethylene for rooms up to 12,000 cubic feet. Additional units can be employed for larger rooms. The user simply turns the unit on, pours in the Ethy-Gen^® II Ripening Concentrate, which the company also provides, and controlled ethylene application begins in minutes.

Catalytic Generators also offers a premium product that makes the process even easier. “While you can certainly be comfortable about your ethylene level using any of our standard generators, our new Smart-Ripe® technology provides remote feedback,” said Greg Akins. “The Smart-Ripe® allows you to enter an ethylene set point and have the generator maintain your desired ethylene level. Also, you receive real-time readings over your network or over the Internet, so you can look at your ripening rooms and see ethylene levels and temperature and humidity readings from anywhere in the world.”

All generators are put through several extensive tests and inspections before they are packaged for shipment, ensuring correct operation and accurate ethylene production.

The company also offers telephone, online and on-site support 24/7 to meet the needs of its customers. 

Learn more about Catalytic Generators on the company's website.