T.H.O.R.: The Effectiveness of (Temperature and Humidity Optimization Regulator) in Keeping The Preservation of Post Harvest Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomatoes are highly perishable crops and experience significant post-harvest losses due to improper storage, mostly in rural areas without storage facilities. There is a critical need to address issues regarding wastage by improving post-harvest facilities to reduce post-harvest losses. The study developed and evaluated the effectiveness of an Arduino system-based Temperature and Humidity Optimization Regulator (T.H.O.R.) for preserving post-harvest tomatoes. ADF tests confirmed that T.H.O.R. maintained stable temperature (t = -5.060, p < 0.01) and humidity (t = -6.460, p < 0.01) levels. Tomatoes stored in T.H.O.R. showed minimal weight loss (0.96g) and retained firmness and color, performing comparably to refrigeration. T.H.O.R. is a cost-effective and functional preservation alternative that significantly reduces spoilage in post-harvest tomatoes. Further field testing with for longer periods of time and integration with smart sensors could improve real-world application and scalability to other perishable crops