Catherine Gipe-Stewart Receives 2025 Snack Storyteller Besties Award

YAKIMA, WA - Stories, like our fingerprints, are uniquely ridged—carried and shared in remarkable, sometimes undetectable ways. At their core, they drive the beating heart of how we choose to love, lose, and reconcile. No one knows this better than Cat Gipe-Stewart, recipient of the 2025 Snack Storyteller Besties Award.

“Stories have a way of transporting us to a new perspective. I love telling stories that open minds, tug at heartstrings, expand our thinking, and offer insight into something people hadn’t even thought to ask about yet,” Cat, Director of Marketing for Superfresh Growers®, shared with me. “I love learning as much as I can firsthand, as well as through other people’s storytelling. I get this high when I start pulling all the pieces together into a narrative. Sometimes people ask if I’m the owner of the company because I speak with so much pride and passion. I’ve never been an owner in the business sense, but I’ve been fortunate to work for companies that make me feel like family and give me a sense of ownership over the storytelling.”

This deeply personal and visceral way of experiencing stories is the lens through which Cat lives her life. She speaks in story—whether she is creating her own or reflecting someone else’s.

“Just last week, I was on vacation—first on the Oregon Coast, then by the water in Michigan. Both places grounded me in that expansive, open energy you get near a large body of water. While I lay in the sun, I read The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd, and it completely swept me into the salty Carolina marshes,” Cat said. “There’s a line that stuck with me: ‘I come here, and it seems the divine is running rampant. That the marsh, the whole of Creation, is some dance God is doing, and we’re meant to step into it.’ That’s what the best stories do—they invite us to step in.”

Whether she’s telling a consumer where their food comes from and who grows it, or sharing the experiences of industry members around her, Cat sees life in poetics—from the earth to the customer’s hand.

“Telling the story of the farmworkers, the terroir of the land, the mountains, the soil, the generations that have farmed it, and then treating it with solidarity and stewardship—I see a tear in their eye,” Cat reflected. “Not kidding. People are often so removed from the source of their food that they can be taken aback when they truly consider it. It’s like they’re blown out of their shell for a moment and reminded that their food came from the soil, from someone who hand-picked every blueberry in their plastic carton, and every cherry in their plastic bag.”

I find kinship with Cat, who speaks about writing with curiosity, passion, and a relentless pursuit of meaningful experiences.

“When I’m writing about a person, the first step is getting to know them as best I can. Are they natural storytellers—do they write or speak easily? Or will I need to talk to their peers to really understand who they are and how to tell their story?” she noted. “I usually start by asking for bullet points. It’s an easy way to get the conversation started. From there, I can expand with more detailed questions, asking them to elaborate on their notes. This is when the spark often shows up—when I can highlight what drives them and motivates them in their everyday lives, bringing to light what their colleagues and peers see each day.”

When it comes to generating stories, having a team that wholly respects, supports, and cherishes such creative work makes all the difference.

“I genuinely love the team I work with. We collaborate, inspire, and challenge each other every day. While we each have our specialties, there’s a lot of overlap, and we’re always ready to jump in and support each other. That support, combined with the occasional challenge to step into someone else’s expertise, pushes us all to grow,” Cat said. “It’s also inspiring to be around talent. When one of my teammates creates something incredible, I feel proud of them—and it motivates me to rise to that same level. We keep raising the bar for each other in the best way.”

This year, the committee voted on every category except Snack Storyteller, Retailer of the Year, Best Marketer to Work With, and the Lifetime Achievement Award—four honors selected by our leadership team due to their special significance.

A heartfelt thank you to our Besties Committee for your time, dedication, and insight. Your contributions are deeply valued. Each year, our team compiles the Besties ballot with nominations across all award categories, and our committee votes to determine the winners.

Cat, your stewardship is felt, imprinted, and cherished by those around you. When the pen is in your hand, the divine is definitely running rampant.