Moving on up

Citrus prices at Hunts Point wholesale market in New York City were closely watched this morning. Unlike the expression that a "watched pot never boils," the citrus market is already bubbling.

I called the New York market news office and got these quotes. California first grade lemons were $29-30 per carton on 95s, up from $22-25 per carton on Friday. California first grade navels were trading at Hunts Point today at $30-32 per carton, up from $22-24 per carton on Friday.

Traders say the freeze-induced shortage of California citrus will be made up by the market in some fashion. The resourcefulness of traders - whether that means citrus from Spain, Morocco, Korea, or Israel - is bound to surprise us.

Speaking of freezes, our offices here in Lenexa are bone-chillingly cold today because of a furnace malfunction. We walked in to 48 degree temps this a.m. and it hasn't got much better by noon. The nation's midsection is in the icy grasp of Old Man Winter - uggh.