Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Tomato ( <italic>Solanum lycopersicum</italic> L.) is a highly perishable horticultural crop that experiences rapid physiological and biochemical deterioration after harvest, leading to significant postharvest losses, particularly in regions with limited cold-chain infrastructure. This study evaluated the effects of refrigeration, pot-in-pot evaporative cooling, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) packaging on the postharvest quality and shelf life of tomato fruits under the environmental conditions of Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with three storage treatments and three replications. Quality attributes, including pH, weight loss, firmness, color development, decay incidence, and shelf life, were evaluated at 5-day intervals during storage. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were compared using Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test at <italic>P</italic> < 0.05. Storage conditions significantly influenced all evaluated quality parameters during storage. Refrigerated storage (4 ± 1°C; 85–90% relative humidity) provided the greatest preservation effect by reducing weight loss and decay development, maintaining firmness, delaying ripening-related changes, and extending marketable shelf life to 21 days. Pot-in-pot evaporative cooling also improved quality retention by providing a cooler and more humid storage environment without external energy requirements, extending shelf life to 19 days. In contrast, LDPE packaging under ambient conditions resulted in faster quality deterioration and maintained marketable quality for only 15 days. These findings demonstrate that refrigeration remains the most effective approach for long-term tomato preservation. However, pot-in-pot evaporative cooling represents a practical, low-cost, and energy-efficient alternative for warm regions where conventional refrigeration systems are limited. The adoption of suitable low-cost storage technologies can contribute to reducing postharvest losses and improving sustainable management of fresh tomato supply chains. </p>