Snow means big business for some local companies

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - Wednesday's storm was a thing of beauty for workers who depend on snowfall to make a living. A lot of landscaping companies rely on snow removal business to get them through the winter.

Workers from Apple Valley take care of a lot more than just fruit. The De Pere apple orchard owners also offer landscaping and excavating. Also snow removal services during the off-season.

"This time of the year, yeah, we need snow business," said manager Jerry Van Elzen. "That's our business."

Van Elzen said a majority of the company's yearly profits come from snow removal. Apple Valley has clean-up contracts with more than a dozen area locations.

"We cover a lot of ground," said Van Elzen. "We do Lambeau We take care of PMI. We got like three Walmarts."

Van Elzen said more than 30 people were called in during Wednesday's snow storm. They plowed through the night.

"We have to get at this snow right away because it was so packy and wet yesterday," he explained. "And today, it's freezing. It's just going to turn to ice, so we need to get it removed as quick as we can today."

It's very time consuming, but welcome work. Especially after a relatively snow-free winter last year.

"We were sucking wind last year," said Van Elzen. "There wasn't much to do. I think we only ended up with 20-some inches last year total. So we've already exceeded that."

The drivers hope there is plenty more snow still on the way over the next couple of months.