8 • March | April 2026 • abasto.com Mayra Romero: Ethics and a Maternal Connection to the Land Mayra Romero , co-founder of Fres- co Produce , has spent nearly two de- cades in trade between Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. For Mayra, the UN designation is an “awakening” that formalizes a value that has always been there. She visualizes female lea- dership as an extension of maternal responsibility: just as a mother care for her children’s health, a female leader seeks cleaner, more sustai- nable agriculture. “We cannot add whatever we want to the land,” Ma- yra warns, promoting organic alter- natives to ensure healthy food. Her management style stands out for its humanistic and ethical approach, prioritizing better working condi- tions and a long-term vision. After years of breaking paradigms regar- ding female capability, Mayra invites her colleagues to eradicate the phra- se “I can’t” from their minds. Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: “I can, I want to, and I will.” Capability, she asserts, has been the master key to her success. Myrna Castro: Qualitative and Resilient Transformation From her management role at EMEX AC , Myrna Castro redefines female participation as a functional recon- figuration of the industry. For her, the impact of women is not a simple staff change, but a qualitative trans- formation. Her urgent message to the industry is the need to recogni- ze equality and boost talent through access to technical training and soft- skills development. Myrna empha- sizes that modern leadership must go beyond the operational to focus on resilience and true innovation. She observes with optimism as more women occupy strategic positions in the office as well as in direct livestock and agricultural activities. Her vision integrates production with strategy, arguing that feeding the world requi- res a collective effort infused with in- telligence and dedication. For Myrna, women are the key piece that allows rural communities and global com- panies to look forward with a stron- ger structure. Cheryl Densten: The Pioneer Who Blazed the Trail With over 40 years in the industry, Cheryl Densten , Director of East Coast Sales at Little Bear Produce , has been both a witness to and a pro- tagonist in a radical metamorphosis. Rising from secretary to a leader in sales and planting planning, Cheryl remembers a time when the field was a “man’s world.” For her, the most ur- gent message is understanding that women no longer need to prove their worth: “We already did. We are here, and we aren’t going anywhere.” Her leadership is based on trust and long- term alliances. Cheryl highlights that the female presence in executive po- sitions at supermarkets and farms has transformed the industry, brin- ging a unique sensitivity to what the consumer is looking for. “As women, we know what we want to see when we go to the grocery store,” she says. Today, Cheryl mentors new genera- tions, including her daughter, assu- ring them that the path, while still challenging, is much wider thanks to the perseverance of those who refu- sed to take “no” for an answer. • Continuation of page 6 Special Insert Agriculture industry