The 10th Biennial Berry Health Benefits Symposium (BHBS) will take place in historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 7 – 9, 2025. The conference is the premier scientific meeting featuring the latest worldwide research focusing on the impact of berry consumption on human health and wellness.
Berry Health Benefits Symposium
October 7-9, 2025
Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA
For more information on the symposium, contact Darcy Kochis at darcy@foodfirstmarketing.com.
The conference started in 2005 when a few pioneering researchers began uncovering the importance berries played in impacting wellness through conducting a variety of in vitro and animal studies on everything from brain function to cancer. Since then literally thousands of studies have been done on the topic of berries and health, including large human studies.
The consistent stream of research highlighting the effectiveness of berries in promoting human wellness has profoundly influenced consumer behavior. News of these health benefits has spurred a significant increase in berry consumption worldwide, driving up demand across global markets. This surge in consumer interest has, in turn, led to a continuous expansion of farmed land dedicated to berry production. The economic viability and sustained market value fueled by consumer demand have made berry cultivation an increasingly attractive and reliable agricultural opportunity for farmers. Growing berries offers a stable and expanding market, providing a dependable crop for agricultural producers.
According to the market intelligence platform IndexBox, “the market value (of berries) increased at an average annual rate of 2.3% from 2013 to 2024,” peaking in 2022 at $1.09 billion, remaining stable throughout the years, and then decreasing slightly in 2024.”
The upcoming 10th Biennial BHBS in Philadelphia promises to be a landmark event, bringing together leading researchers, healthcare professionals, agricultural experts, and industry stakeholders to share the latest findings, discuss emerging trends, and explore future directions in berry health research and its implications for public health and agricultural sustainability. The symposium will feature a diverse program, including keynote presentations from renowned experts, scientific sessions showcasing the latest research, and networking opportunities, all focused on advancing our understanding of the remarkable health-promoting properties of berries.The BHBS offers a front row seat into the newest, often unpublished, work of the world’s leading researchers into new ways that berries affect numerous areas of health.
Amy Howell, former Associate Research Scientist at Rutgers University noted, “The Symposium consistently attracts top scientists presenting research on berries in areas including cognition and cardiometabolic health, with a special focus this year on the role of berry intake on improvements in gut health. The format allows all attendees a unique opportunity to interact directly with researchers to get questions answered, request media interviews and gain more in-depth insights into the surprising whole-body benefits of including berries in the daily diet.”
Recognizing the critical impact of gut health on overall wellness, this year’s symposium will emphasize the significant effects of berries on the gut. Dr. Johanna Lampe from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center will deliver the keynote address, “Diet and the Gut Microbiome: Whose diet is it?”
Regarding the 2025 symposium, Dr. Britt Burton-Freeman, Chair of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Clinical Nutrition Research Center said: The Berry Health Benefits Symposium (BHBS) is the premier international event focused solely on the role of berries in human health. I love this meeting because it brings together top scientists from around the globe to present and discuss their latest findings on how berries and their distinctive bioactive components interact and influence human physiology. This meeting also serves as a platform for engaging with industry, policy makers, and clinical health professionals, where conversations can move from the lab bench to practice translating the science into actionable health solutions for people.
Along with sessions on cardio metabolic health, cognition, gut health and berry special topics, the event will offer an optional tour of local blueberry and cranberry growing areas. The tour offers an up close and personal look at berry farming in the Northeast.
Register Now
Registration for the Berry Health Benefits Symposium is currently open. Symposium attendees will include members of the scientific community, healthcare professionals, food industry, media and scholars.
The host hotel for the symposium is the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, centrally located near historic landmarks, shops, and restaurants. Book a room at conference rates.
To view the full list of speakers and for event registration information, please visit www.berryhealth.org.
For more information on the symposium, contact Darcy Kochis at darcy@foodfirstmarketing.com.
The biennial symposium is organized and sponsored by the National Berry Crops Initiative (NBCI) a membership organization for growers, researchers, marketers and stakeholders in the caneberry industry.