Postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables in tropical regions faces significant challenges due to unpredictable weather. This review critically examines the application of conventional cold storage techniques in the postharvest management of tropical horticultural produce, considering the constraints that affect their performance and the environmental factors influencing the storage of tropical fruits and vegetables. Particular attention is given to the technical limitations of these systems when deployed under tropical conditions. The study systematically examined findings from peer-reviewed literature on various conventional cooling applications, offering a comprehensive overview of their performance and limitations. Furthermore, it explores the integration of solar powered refrigeration systems to enhance energy efficiency and promote technological innovation in off-grid cooling. Findings from this review underscore research gaps and highlight the need to develop advanced, climate resilient cold storage configurations tailored to the unique challenges of tropical environments. Specifically, integrating solar-powered refrigeration units with thermal energy storage (TES) compartments into conventional cooling systems for the storage of fruits and vegetables.