Year-round strawberry production: advancements in forcing techniques to extend the growing season

Year-round strawberry production is achievable by combining advanced forcing techniques, suitable cultivars (low-chilling or day-neutral), and optimized environmental controls. These strategies extend the growing season, enhance productivity, and enable continuous out-of-season cultivation. Garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is one of the most widely produced and consumed fruit crops worldwide, valued for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and nutritional benefits. Year-round production of garden strawberry is an emerging goal for global horticulture, but traditional, season-bound cultivars limit availability and market continuity. Recent advances in forcing culture techniques, combined with the adoption of low-chilling and day-neutral cultivars, now support continuous strawberry harvests beyond conventional seasons. This review synthesizes key developments in forcing culture across major Japanese and European production systems, focusing on photoperiod and temperature regulation, optimized cultivar selection, and regional adaptations. By extending harvest windows, these strategies help stabilize supply chains and improve grower profitability. The physiological basis of floral induction and cultivar responses is examined to reveal practical, climate-resilient pathways for sustainable strawberry cultivation. Challenges remain in labor efficiency, resource sustainability, and adapting forcing protocols to local environments. Future research should integrate genetic, environmental, and technological innovations, including genetic markers for forcing responsiveness and automated environmental controls, to ensure reliable, high-quality year-round yields. Expanding forcing culture holds promise for stabilizing production, enhancing fruit quality, and supporting sustainable livelihoods amid climate variability and growing global demand.