A ripening room, often called a gas room, is a sealed, temperature-controlled space where climacteric fruit such as bananas, avocados and tomatoes is exposed to ethylene to start ripening on a schedule. Distributors use them to deliver fruit at the ripeness each customer wants.
Ripening creates an inventory problem: the fruit in the room is on hand but not yet sellable, and it changes value as it ripens. Sold too early it is green; held too long it is overripe.
In APFoodz ripening stock stays off the pick until it is ready to sell.