Maricela Esperón, a 35-year-old Mazateca producer and resilient entrepreneur, transformed her farm into a regional benchmark for quality and innovation despite significant obstacles. As a child, her grandfather refused to pass down the family farm to her father, Miguel Esperón, because he only had daughters, and Maricela herself faced similar gender-based prejudice. Undeterred, she defied patriarchal norms and now co-owns six hectares of land with her father and brother. Operating in La Mazateca’s cold, rainy climate, Maricela produces exceptional naturals by drying hand-selected cherries on raised beds under shade for over 40 days, resulting in clean, fruit-forward flavors that exemplify her commitment to excellence.