Comparative Assessment of Solar Refrigerated and Evaporative Cooled (SREC) Structure for On-Farm Storage of Tomatoes.

This article presents a study comparing different storage conditions for tomatoes, including a solar refrigerated and evaporative cooled (SREC) structure developed for smallholder farmers. The study evaluated parameters such as weight loss, color change, and firmness of the tomatoes. The results showed that the SREC and refrigerator storage had better postharvest quality retention compared to evaporative cooled and ambient conditions. This research provides valuable insights into improving storage options for perishable horticultural produce, particularly for smallholder farmers, and suggests that the use of SREC structures can help reduce postharvest losses and improve the quality of stored tomatoes. [Extracted from the article]