New Hope’s freelance writers pick favorite stories of 2023
New Hope Network wouldn’t be the same without our talented freelance writers. Check out their favorite stories of the year.
December 19, 2023
![The words "stories matter" are typed on a sheet of paper that is still in a typewriter. The words "stories matter" are typed on a sheet of paper that is still in a typewriter.](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/blt1f78ef78fe4a591c/6582301df843dc0407740445/freelance-faves-roundup-feature.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
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Cleaning up the coffee value chain
Melaina Juntti writes:
As a journalist, it’s always thrilling to really dig into a topic, learn everything you can about it and discover that there is a much bigger (and sometimes entirely different) story to be told than you expected. This is how “Cleaning up the coffee value chain” came to be. It wasn’t originally assigned as a deep dive, but the New Hope editors graciously allowed me to run with it. Through researching this story, I learned so much about the complex, often controversial coffee value chain and, specifically, about various stakeholders’ efforts to reduce environmental impact and enhance social responsibility. I found it all to be incredibly fascinating, and I loved putting together a story around it.
ADC launches minority certification for MENA-owned businesses
Kelly Teal writes:
One of the best parts about writing for New Hope is the opportunity to cover impactful social change. The launch of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s Minority Business Certification this year perhaps encapsulates that sentiment the most. While the certification applies across all types of industries, it started in the CPG sector with Zesty Z and Better Sour serving as the first two food companies to earn the designation. The ADC’s efforts bring to Arab, Middle Eastern and North African business owners opportunities for funding and distribution discounts that other groups have had for some time. Especially as war between Israel and Gaza continues, the ADC’s certification and advocacy for its members reflects the importance of supporting Americans of all ethnicities and heritages.
Farmer-focused Jasberry jousts for Expo East Pitch Slam title
Dawn Reiss writes:
There’s a reason Jasberry CEO and co-founder Peetachai "Neil" Dejkraisak won the 2023 Natural Products Expo East Pitch Slam. He’s got a compelling story that not only helps make the world a better place by supporting organic farming in a more sustainable way, but he helps build a better, stronger, more innovative farming community that done in way where farmers are also paid a livable wage.
Dejkraisak's Jasberry won the Pitch Slam, which Dawn wrote about, as well. Click here to read the story.
Gruff Ancient Grain Grits capitalizes on regenerative organic farming
Kelly Teal writes:
Writing about Gruff Ancient Grain Grits, which won the NEXTY Award for Best Certified Regenerative Organic Product, was very satisfying, too. Founding Member Brei Larmoyeux made a comment to me about how farmers want to grow the foods consumers want. And, at last, more people are waking up to the reality that we must take the toxins out of our soil, foods and environment, all while honoring the earth’s need to regenerate. Gruff stands out as a company feeding this demand for change, and it’s encouraging that buyers agree.
7 takeaways from Clara Paye’s business school keynote
Dawn Reiss wrote:
This piece trended on LinkedIn and got a ton of comments for a reason:
She gave concrete, actionable tips that would help any entrepreneur or founder. Her business school keynote covered the need to empathically understanding buyer, consumer and co-manufacturer wants and needs while staying true to yourself as a founder. That resonated with a lot of people.
Mocktail Club: Adult, not 'virgin,' nonalcoholic beverages
Davina van Buren writes:
Food and travel are not only my writing niches, they’re my personal passions, so writing about Mocktail Club, a line of nonalcoholic beverages inspired by the founder Pauline Idogho’s love of travel, was a perfect fit. The drinks—which have fun names like Havana Twist, Capri Spritz, and Bombay Fire—are made with shrubs, herbs, and healthy superfruits. I appreciate that the company donates 1% of all sales to Water for People, a global charity committed to bringing sustainable clean water and sanitation systems to communities in developing countries.
Mocktail Club: Adult, not 'virgin,' nonalcoholic beverages
Davina van Buren writes:
Food and travel are not only my writing niches, they’re my personal passions, so writing about Mocktail Club, a line of nonalcoholic beverages inspired by the founder Pauline Idogho’s love of travel, was a perfect fit. The drinks—which have fun names like Havana Twist, Capri Spritz, and Bombay Fire—are made with shrubs, herbs, and healthy superfruits. I appreciate that the company donates 1% of all sales to Water for People, a global charity committed to bringing sustainable clean water and sanitation systems to communities in developing countries.
It takes a special person to be a freelance reporter and writer.
First, you have to accept that your income will vary—sometimes wildly—based on people and events over which you have absolutely no control. You need the self-confidence to sell your work to editors and publishers that, in many cases, you’ve never met and might never meet face to face.
And you absolutely must have the self-discipline to work, nose to the keyboard, instead of finding oh-so-many-other things to do on the computer that is both your work tool and your window to the world.
Fortunately, we New Hope editors have found several excellent freelancers who have these qualities and more: They write beautiful, descriptive stories that pull readers into the lives of natural products entrepreneurs and retailers. They ask the necessary questions of experts and investors so they can understand and explain complicated subjects. And they turn in well-written, clean copy that helps us share with the New Hope audiences what is important in this industry.
As we started planning our holiday coverage, we decided to ask our freelancers which of the many stories they wrote this year are their favorites. In this gallery, we share with you not only those stories, but the reasons why they are special to our writers. We hope you find some of your favorites here, too.
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