[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 102 (Thursday, June 15, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    CONGRATULATING TURNING NATURAL, INC. AND CELEBRATING D.C. SMALL 
                               BUSINESSES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating Jerri Evans and her 
company, Turning Natural, Inc., this year's D.C. Small Business of the 
Year. This unique honor is part of our annual Small Business Fair, 
which we are holding today at the Walter E. Washington Convention 
Center.
  This year, we are proud to honor Small Business of the Year Turning 
Natural, Inc., a juice bar located in the Southeast part of the city. 
Turning Natural has been a welcome fixture in the neighborhood for 
almost a decade. Growing up, Evans witnessed her family's difficulty 
accessing healthy foods. Neighborhoods where Evans grew up in Southeast 
were considered food deserts, and, sadly, many still are today. With 
the juice bar, Evans provides her neighbors a healthy alternative to 
fast food, carry-outs and corner stores. Today, she keeps things fresh 
with creative juice names like ``Green Latifah,'' ``Swizz Beets'' and 
``Mi'Kale Jackson,'' and by adding a variety of new juice types to her 
menu, including the increasingly popular cold-press juices. Evans' 
mother, Annette Turner, founded Turning Natural after surviving a bout 
with Stage II breast cancer. Sadly, when the cancer returned in 2010, 
she lost that fight. Jerri continued the business and her mother's 
legacy, and, today, continues to run the company and to advocate for 
healthy living among Washingtonians.
  This is the 20th time we are hosting our Small Business Fair to 
highlight the importance of small businesses in the District. The Fair 
provides critical information, counseling and resources to aspiring and 
current D.C. business owners. Small businesses are an essential 
lifeline in our local economy, and the District thrives because of 
their success. I thank the Washington Convention Center for hosting us 
again this year; the workshop experts who are providing valuable 
information and assistance to small businesses; and, of course, all of 
the small businesses who participate this year.
  I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the 
D.C. Small Business of the Year, Turning Natural, Inc., as well as in 
celebrating our small businesses across the District. In the District 
and in districts around the country, we know the social, cultural and 
economic importance of small businesses.

                          ____________________