Temperate Berries: Preharvest Factors Contributing to Berry Quality—A Review

Abstract Berries are highly diverse, comprising a wide range of colors, including red, purple, and blue. Among berry fruits, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and currants are the world’s most economically important temperate berries. The increasing popularity of these berries is linked to their attractive color, special taste, and nutritional and health benefits. In addition to color-imparting anthocyanins, berries can contain numerous other health-promoting metabolites, including vitamins C and E, ellagitannins, phenolics, sugars, and β‑carotene. All these compounds exhibit antioxidant properties, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Berry quality, however, is influenced by preharvest factors, including those of genetic and environmental origins and cultural practices. The present analysis, therefore, aimed to comprehensively review the available literature on the influence of preharvest factors on the yield and the sensory, and nutritional attributes of temperate berries. Although individual preharvest factors influence berry quality, the genotype × environment × management (G × E × M) interaction remains the primary driver. The expression and activity of genes involved in key physiological processes, including carbohydrate partitioning, cell wall strengthening, color development, flavonoid biosynthesis (via MYB-bHLH-WD40 transcription complexes), and sugar metabolism, are modulated by prevailing environmental conditions and management practices. This review reveals that yield and sensory and nutritional quality parameters are influenced by the interaction effects of cultivar genotype, site-specific pedo-climatic conditions, and cultural practices. The selection of cultivars with superior genotypes and enhanced adaptation to site-specific environmental conditions, as well as the implementation of mechanism-based management strategies, is essential for achieving consistent, high-quality temperate berries.