Blueberry Council Names First-Ever 'Boost Accelerator' Cohort
Four startups will advance bold, blueberry-forward innovations — from gut-health powders to fruit-first frozen desserts — in a nine-week program culminating at the 2025 Blueberry Convention
The US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), in partnership with VentureFuel, announced the four companies selected for the inaugural cohort of the Blueberry Boost Accelerator. Each startup was chosen by a selection panel of blueberry industry leaders for its bold use of blueberries in innovative products that span wellness, fun snacking formats and better-for-you indulgence — offering novel ways for consumers to enjoy blueberries.
The Blueberry Boost Accelerator was launched earlier this year to fuel forward-thinking product innovation and elevate blueberries as a hero ingredient by supporting visionary startups. From functional nutrition to clean-label desserts, this inaugural cohort exemplifies the future of the power of blueberries.
The 2025 Blueberry Boost Accelerator cohort includes:
- Bonny Prebiotic Fiber Powder (New York, N.Y.): A clean-label, prebiotic fiber powder with a blueberry-infused flavor, designed to support gut health and make fiber fun, flavorful and functional.
- Farmer Bob’s “Beyond Berries” (Salem, Ore.): A playful, frozen, nutrient-dense fruit snack made with upcycled blueberries and raspberries, and naturally sweet dates, reshaped into a new-to-market format that’s fun, naturally sweet and family-friendly.
- Pluff (Orlando, Fla.): A high-protein, mousse-style dessert launching with a “Berry Blast” flavor made with freeze-dried blueberries. Pluff delivers indulgent texture and functional nutrition in one high-protein, low-sugar bite.
- Sorbatto’s “Blue Cream” (Wapato, Wash.): A dairy-free, allergy-friendly frozen dessert made from 75% highbush blueberries. With no added sugar or water, Blue Cream offers a creamy, fruit-first alternative to traditional ice cream.
Companies were evaluated across various criteria: volume potential and market relevance; unique value proposition and differentiation (including blueberry prominence); product marketability and PR potential; fundability and scale; and the strength of founding teams.
“Whether eaten by the handful or in a favorite recipe, blueberries are a delicious and special staple – and we’ve known they have huge potential in ingredient innovation,” said USHBC president Kasey Cronquist. “This cohort of inventive entrepreneurial brands is demonstrating how blueberries can add great taste, excitement and wellness benefits to products across categories. We’re thrilled to be part of the promotion and continued growth of these innovators.”
The cohort will now enter an nine-week accelerator sprint, receiving weekly one-on-one coaching from VentureFuel, expert sessions with industry leaders, peer roundtables and support with developing marketing materials, including a professionally produced commercial. The program will culminate in a live pitch competition at The Blueberry Convention in Seattle, Oct. 8-10, where the winning company will receive a $20,000 grand prize, and the runner-up will receive $10,000.
“This cohort shows how startup-driven innovation can introduce blueberries to new consumers in exciting, unexpected ways,” said Fred Schonenberg, founder and CEO of VentureFuel. “These founders are creating products that deliver on what today’s shoppers crave — flavor, function and fun — while unlocking new paths to commercial scale that benefit the entire blueberry category.”
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
