As Italy’s fresh produce sector evolves, driven by strong banana imports, growing avocado demand and a well-established persimmon market, the need for simple, safe and controlled ripening solutions is increasing. Still at an early stage in the country, Catalytic Generators used its first participation at the Macfrut 2026 show to increase visibility, engage with Italian operators and lay the foundations for future growth.
Italy stands out as one of Europe’s key fresh produce markets, particularly in fruit categories where controlled ripening plays a central role. According to FAOSTAT, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s corporate statistical database, the country imports over 600,000 metric tons of bananas annually, making it one of the largest banana markets in Europe and underlining the importance of efficient and reliable ripening operations across the supply chain.
At the same time, consumption patterns are evolving. As indicated by the Netherlands CBI agency, avocado demand across Europe has grown significantly in recent years and is expected to continue expanding.
Avocados are projected to become the second-most traded tropical fruit globally by 2030, while already ranking as the second-most valuable imported fruit in Europe. In 2024 alone, European avocado imports reached a value of 3.5 billion euros, of which 2.8 billion euros came from developing countries. This sustained growth, driven by increasing consumer demand and ongoing investment in production, is reinforcing the need for precise and controlled ripening processes across emerging markets such as Italy.
In parallel, Italy remains one of the leading European producers of persimmons, a category where ethylene application is already well understood and widely used in postharvest operations. This combination of mature and fast-growing fruit categories is increasing pressure on operators to deliver consistent, repeatable results at scale. As a result, ensuring fruit quality while maintaining operational efficiency and compliance with strict European regulations is becoming a growing priority.
As supply chains become more complex and demand for uniform ripeness increases, the application of ethylene is emerging as a critical control point.
Supply Stability: A Growing Concern
In addition to these structural trends, supply stability is becoming an increasingly relevant concern for ripening operations as a result of recent geopolitical developments.
“Ethylene is a high-demand commodity used across multiple industrial sectors, with overall demand extending far beyond fruit ripening. As a result, recent geopolitical conflict is creating increasing pressure on availability and pricing stability in some regions, making supply reliability a growing concern for ripening operations,” says Greg Akins, president and CEO of Catalytic Generators. “To address these risks, our systems enable on-site ethylene generation, helping operators reduce dependency on external supply chains, gain greater control over supply and limit exposure to volatility.”
