diff --git a/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/api/item/BOPItems.java b/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/api/item/BOPItems.java
index 53b57592a..b8f3a6e2b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/api/item/BOPItems.java
+++ b/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/api/item/BOPItems.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ public class BOPItems
     public static Item filled_honeycomb;
     public static Item gem;
     public static Item ash;
+    public static Item berries;
     
     public static Item sacred_oak_door;
     public static Item cherry_door;
diff --git a/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/block/BlockFoliage.java b/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/block/BlockFoliage.java
index ac70ccf3b..d3b07a80b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/block/BlockFoliage.java
+++ b/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/block/BlockFoliage.java
@@ -132,8 +132,7 @@ public class BlockFoliage extends BlockDecoration implements IShearable
                 
             case BERRYBUSH:
                 // BERRYBUSH always drops berries
-                // TODO: change from peach to berries once item is implemented
-                ret.add(new ItemStack(BOPItems.peach));
+                ret.add(new ItemStack(BOPItems.berries));
                 
             default:
                 break;
@@ -267,6 +266,26 @@ public class BlockFoliage extends BlockDecoration implements IShearable
     }
     
     
+    @Override
+    public void updateTick(World worldIn, BlockPos pos, IBlockState state, Random rand)
+    {
+        super.updateTick(worldIn, pos, state, rand);
+        switch ((FoliageType) state.getValue(VARIANT))
+        {
+            case BUSH:
+                // every now and then berries grow on a bush
+                if (rand.nextInt(80) > 0 && worldIn.getLightFromNeighbors(pos.up()) >= 9)
+                {
+                    worldIn.setBlockState(pos, state.withProperty(VARIANT, FoliageType.BERRYBUSH));
+                }
+                break;
+                
+            default:
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    
     @Override
     public void onEntityCollidedWithBlock(World world, BlockPos pos, IBlockState state, Entity entity)
     {
@@ -291,8 +310,8 @@ public class BlockFoliage extends BlockDecoration implements IShearable
         {
             case BERRYBUSH:
                 // an activated berry bush turns into a regular bush and drops a berry
-                worldIn.setBlockState(pos, this.getDefaultState().withProperty(VARIANT, FoliageType.BUSH));
-                EntityItem berries = new EntityItem(worldIn, (double)pos.getX(), (double)pos.getY(), (double)pos.getZ(), new ItemStack(BOPItems.peach)); // TODO implement berry instead of peach
+                worldIn.setBlockState(pos, state.withProperty(VARIANT, FoliageType.BUSH));
+                EntityItem berries = new EntityItem(worldIn, (double)pos.getX(), (double)pos.getY(), (double)pos.getZ(), new ItemStack(BOPItems.berries));
                 if (!worldIn.isRemote)
                 {
                     worldIn.spawnEntityInWorld(berries);
@@ -327,12 +346,15 @@ public class BlockFoliage extends BlockDecoration implements IShearable
         switch ((FoliageType) state.getValue(VARIANT))
         {       
             case BERRYBUSH:
-                // BERRYBUSH gives a regular bush when sheared
+                // BERRYBUSH gives a regular bush and a berry when sheared
                 ret.add(new ItemStack(this, 1, this.getMetaFromState(this.getDefaultState().withProperty(VARIANT, FoliageType.BUSH))));
+                ret.add(new ItemStack(BOPItems.berries, 1));
+                break;
                 
             default:
                 // default is to get the block unaltered
                 ret.add(new ItemStack(this, 1, this.getMetaFromState(state)));
+                break;
         }
         return ret;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/init/ModItems.java b/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/init/ModItems.java
index 96a556c8a..576967c3a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/init/ModItems.java
+++ b/src/main/java/biomesoplenty/common/init/ModItems.java
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ public class ModItems
         filled_honeycomb = registerItem(new ItemFood(3, 0.4F, false), "filled_honeycomb");
         gem = registerItem(new ItemGem(), "gem");
         ash = registerItem(new Item(), "ash");
+        berries = registerItem(new ItemFood(1, 0.1F, false), "berries");
     
         // armor
         // TODO: do we really want durability of -1?  does that mean it lasts forever?
diff --git a/src/main/resources/assets/biomesoplenty/models/item/berries.json b/src/main/resources/assets/biomesoplenty/models/item/berries.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cfb02d38b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/resources/assets/biomesoplenty/models/item/berries.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+    "parent": "builtin/generated",
+    "textures": {
+        "layer0": "biomesoplenty:items/berries"
+    },
+    "display": {
+        "thirdperson": {
+            "rotation": [ -90, 0, 0 ],
+            "translation": [ 0, 1, -3 ],
+            "scale": [ 0.55, 0.55, 0.55 ]
+        },
+        "firstperson": {
+            "rotation": [ 0, -135, 25 ],
+            "translation": [ 0, 4, 2 ],
+            "scale": [ 1.7, 1.7, 1.7 ]
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/resources/assets/biomesoplenty/textures/items/berries.png b/src/main/resources/assets/biomesoplenty/textures/items/berries.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e6f7bca3
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/main/resources/assets/biomesoplenty/textures/items/berries.png differ