The design, construction and measured performance of a porous evaporative cooler for preservation of fruits and vegetables are reported. The experimental cooler, with a total storage space of 0.014 m(3), consists of a cuboid shaped porous clay container located inside another clay container. The gap between them is filled with coconut fibre. A water reservoir linked to the cooler at the top through a flexible pipe supplied water to fill the gap, thus keeping the coconut fibre continuously wet. Results of the transient performance tests revealed that the cooler storage chamber temperature depression from ambient air temperature varied over 0.1-12 degreesC. Ambient air temperatures during the test periods ranged over 22-38 degreesC. The results also illustrate superior performance of the cooler over open air preservation of vegetables soon after harvest during the diurnal operations. Thus, the evaporative cooler has prospects for use for short term preservation of vegetables and fruits soon after harvest. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.