A berry-bright idea

Sunny days, berry moments and clever wonders. In Hökenså's deep berry forests, the solution to a timeless concern has taken shape. Berrybooster is the innovation that simplifies berry picking and facilitates the berries' journey from forest to bowl.

Sweet, sour and fabulously delicious. Few things taste as much like summer as freshly picked berries. There's something magical about walking out into the woods on a hot summer's day, with a basket in hand and the sun seeping through the branches and foliage. And for Jörgen and Majvor Johansson, this simple joy is a natural part of the rhythm of summer. Since the couple bought their holiday home in Bohuslän in the late 1990s, they have made a tradition of summer berry picking. But the pleasure of well-filled berry baskets comes with a downside, as we all know, because picking by hand soon became a labour-intensive and time-consuming task. "There must be a way to make this smoother," Jörgen thought when he realised how much work lay ahead of him after a day in the forest. And with his background in engineering and his ability to find practical solutions to everyday problems, he started to think of a solution.

Automating the berry cleaning process

Jörgen knew there had to be a better, easier way to pick berries, and came up with solutions that would eliminate the labour-intensive picking and leave more room for fun. That's how the idea of an automatic berry picker was born, which could easily separate berries from twigs, needles and leaves.

The first steps towards what would later become Berrybooster were taken in the family's workshop, where Jörgen made simple wooden models, which they then tested together with friends and family. And because the tests could only be done during the berry season, every summer became an important time for development and improvement. With each iteration they learned something new, and over time the Berrybooster evolved into a sheet metal model with a galvanised surface, which can be easily cleaned with water and citric acid - perfect for removing stubborn blueberry stains.

By using a vacuum cleaner and a screwdriver as a driving force, the Berrybooster not only streamlines berry cleaning but also makes it possible to handle large quantities of berries in a short time. In this way, the solution also builds on tools that are already available in most households - an important aspect of making Berrybooster accessible to as many people as possible. And instead of the rubbish filling up costly vacuum cleaner bags, it is instead collected in a handy, pull-out rubbish box, and the cleared berries are rolled out on a conveyor belt, giving the user an extra chance to pick off larger needles and leaves.

Family-driven innovation

As with any well-engineered product, Berrybooster is the result of years of rigorous testing and tweaking, creativity and persistence. The current solution has been in place for around 8 years, and Majvor's daughter Therese and her husband Christian also helped with the launch. Today, Jörgen's brother Lasse is responsible for both the production and distribution of Berrybooster, and the family-owned innovation continues to explore new forests - and make life easier for all berry lovers.

Tips for other innovators

 Innovation is solving a problem that covers a defined area of the market.
 Identify and analyse needs from all possible perspectives.
 Unleash your creativity, think through all possible solutions.
 Test and then establish a path.