Tips in Storing Fresh Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes ready for harvest

Tomatoes can be kept field fresh for a period of three weeks without using cold storage[2]. One economical alternative is to use the Evaporative Cooling and Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) Technology which prolongs the storage life of fresh tomatoes under ordinary condition using coco coir dust, polyethylene (PE) plastic packaging and a suitable crate or container. Tomatoes to be stored must be green, firm and free from injury and mechanical damage to maximize the benefits of this technology. Otherwise, storage period will be shorter than what is expected. Steps: Wash the tomatoes in water with chlorox (1 tablespoon of chlorox for every 1 liter of water) to disinfect the fruits from pathogenic microorganisms. Dry the tomatoes and pack in PE bags with 2 pinpricks per kilogram of tomatoes. Moisten the coir dust with chlorox-mixed water and line the base of the container with this. Place the packed tomatoes in the middle and cover with moist coir dust. It is recommended that a kilo of coir dust be used per kilo of tomatoes. How does this technology work for tomato plants? The PE bag modifies the tomato surrounding by decreasing oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide. These delay ripening and discoloration of the peel, reduce weight loss and moisture loss, and reduce in injuries from chilling. The cooling effect of moist coir dust, on one hand, also delays ripening of tomato.