Catalytic Generators technology powers high-volume banana and plantain ripening in the U.S.

Ripening tens of thousands of boxes of bananas and plantains each week requires a high level of control and operational consistency. For U.S.-based produce distributor Exp. Group, a long-standing partnership with Catalytic Generators has helped provide the reliability needed to support that precision while enabling the company to expand its ripening capacity across the country.

Headquartered in North Bergen, New Jersey, Exp. Group operates one of the largest banana and plantain ripening platforms in the United States. The family-owned company handles more than 75,000 boxes of bananas and over 100,000 boxes of plantains every week, while managing close to one million boxes of fresh produce across its supply chain, including papayas, pears and tomatoes.

The collaboration between the two companies dates back more than three decades, beginning with founders Gene Akins and Emil Serafino. Today, the second generation of both families — Greg Akins, President and CEO of Catalytic Generators, and Anthony Serafino, President and Principal of Exp. Group — continue to lead their respective businesses.

According to Serafino, ripening fruit requires far more than simply changing its colour. In his view, anyone can turn fruit yellow, but achieving the right colour, shelf life and consistency for each customer requires discipline and precision.

Exp. Group began its ripening operations in 2013 with seven rooms. The company has since expanded its infrastructure significantly and now operates large-scale facilities in North Bergen, New Jersey, and McAllen, Texas. The New Jersey site includes 35 ripening chambers that rely on Catalytic Generators’ technology to control ethylene application for bananas and plantains, while the Texas facility operates using the same approach to ensure consistency across both locations.

Catalytic Generators supplies ethylene application technology designed to simplify ripening management at scale. Its Easy-Ripe® generators combined with Ethy-Gen® II ethylene concentrate allow operators to control ripening cycles precisely and maintain uniform fruit colour and quality across high-volume operations.

Greg Akins explains that the company’s objective is to make ethylene the simplest part of the ripening process. When operators can apply it reliably and predictably, he says, they are able to focus on serving customers and expanding their operations with confidence.

For Exp. Group, maintaining consistency across different customer requirements is essential. Retailers often request specific ripening profiles depending on their store formats and storage capacity.

Serafino explains that some customers prefer greener fruit with slower ripening cycles because they manage larger inventories, while others — particularly smaller urban stores with faster turnover — require fruit at a higher colour stage with quicker rotation.

He emphasises that the process is far from a standardised model, noting that each customer has specific expectations and that ripening systems must allow operators to adapt cycles while maintaining consistent results.

Beyond operational performance, Serafino also highlights the role of shared values in the long-term relationship between the companies. Both organisations operate as family businesses, and he notes that understanding a partner’s principles and priorities is an important part of choosing a supplier.

In his view, the partnership works because both companies share similar values and maintain open communication, making the relationship straightforward and dependable.

As Exp. Group continues to expand its ripening capacity and last-mile distribution capabilities, the collaboration with Catalytic Generators is expected to remain a central part of its operations.

Serafino notes that the final stage of delivery is where fruit quality ultimately meets the consumer. Ensuring that produce arrives at the right colour and condition, he says, is critical for the entire supply chain to function effectively.

Produce companies seeking ripening solutions can send their inquiry to explore how ethylene systems by Catalytic Generators support reliable, high-volume fruit ripening operations.