ELKHART — Snow plow crews are working over-time to clear the way for drivers; in some cases 12-, 14- and 24-hour shifts.

Street departments have gone through twice as much sand and salt as what they used last year at this time.

But some road crews aren't just using traditional salt and sand — they're also using beet juice.

To clear the streets in Elkhart this winter snow plow crews have already used 2,400 tons of sand and salt. They've also used about 5,000 gallons of beet juice.

That's right — as in juice from the edible vegetable.

"Right now we probably have 3,000 gallons left. We had 5,000. We just got an order at the beginning of the year so we use it quite a bit," said Marty Morgan, street commissioner.

It's not exactly the beet juice you'd buy from the grocery store; but very similar and all-natural.

And it's becoming big business.

The company that sells it to Elkhart has more than 500 clients throughout the Midwest — including the city of Chicago.

"It's a by-product after they took off sugar and it was discovered about 10 or 11 years ago that this product combined with salt makes it work better," said Rod Waltman from Road Solutions, Inc.

Company officials say it can melt ice down to about 30-degrees below zero; compared to salt that only begins to work when it's 15 above. It's also non-corrosive.

“It's heavier than salt brine so it sticks in the grooves and cracks of the asphalt and its thicker so it breaks that bond of ice on the road," said Morgan.

It's another sign of the alternative times — even street departments now going organic.

So, why isn't everyone using beet juice on the road? For one thing, it's very new — only about 10 years old. It's also pricey.

But the Elkhart Street Department says it's working for them and, long-term, worth the investment.