Advances in the development of a tomato postharvest storage system: towards eradicating postharvest losses

Abstract

The production of tomatoes has experienced a huge rise over the years as a result of its economic, nutritional and cancer reduction importance. Despite the rapid advancement of technology in the past century, storage of tomato fruits remains a major problem experienced in the postharvest chain in most developing countries. This study gives a survey of the various causes of tomatoes postharvest losses, the different methods used in storage of the fruit over time and their limitations. It was found that the conventional methods used in tomatoes storage, improved its shelf life but was accompanied by some significant losses in quantity and quality. Hence, generating a need for a postharvest storage system taking into cognizance the optimum conditions required for the fruit storage. The development of a thermally controlled postharvest storage system with the sole purpose of increasing shelf life and minimize the rate of deterioration becomes inevitable.