Ross Courtney is an associate editor for Good Fruit Grower, writing articles and taking photos for the print magazine and website. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University.
Courtney worked as a writer, photographer and video producer for the Yakima Herald-Republic starting in 2000, covering agriculture, education and local government. He was the author of the Herald-Republic‘s popular Crop Lines blog.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a communications specialist for a Pasco, Washington, company representing agricultural groups. Before that, he covered sports for the Tri-City Herald.
Courtney joined the magazine in 2015. He lives in Prosser with his family.
Follow the author — Contact: 509-930-8798 or Email
My Recent Articles
On hot viticulture field day, cooling system an appropriate highlight
Washington State University researcher Ben-Min Chang, left, warms up a vineyard temperature sensor to trigger
Blueberry exports reach China
A retailer in China held a ceremony this month to mark the first promoted import
Northwest cherry growers estimate heat caused 20 percent crop loss
Cherry growers in the Northwest estimate the recent record-setting heat wave will cost them about
Marketing messages growing behind the scenes
Marketing groups commission videos to communicate growers’ efforts and decisions.
Berry gentle harvesting
Manufacturers race to build blueberry harvesters that can pick without bruising.
Growers casting wider nets when recruiting professionals
Fruit producers look beyond U.S. borders for highly skilled managers and directors.
Abundant Robotics closes shop
Abundant Robotics, the tech startup that appeared to be leading the race to commercialize a
Short supplies mean no quantity control
Shortages of pallets, containers and more hit fruit shippers.
Cherry growers harvest at night to beat record-setting heat wave
Cherry growers in the Pacific Northwest are racing to beat a record-setting heat wave, many of them harvesting in the dead of night.
Matching trellis to terroir
VSP dominates Washington, but there are several other choices in training systems.
Getting ahead of cherry nutrition
California growers commission cherry nutrient budget study.
Okanogan opportunities
North Central Washington growers are finding new life in Honeycrisp-derived club varieties well-suited for their climate.
Growing in wide open spaces
Oroville grower sticks with mid-density and larger trees, even for new plantings of premium varieties.
Before vaccinations took effect, COVID-19 spread on Washington farm
A total of 45 employees tested positive for COVID-19 on May 27 at Gilbert Orchards
Washington softens COVID-19 restrictions for farmworker housing
In light of high vaccination rates among Washington’s farmworkers and shifting federal guidelines about coronavirus
Listeria hot spots
Study ranks packing line locations for prevalence of pathogen indicators.
Psycho Clown scores a win for pears
USA Pears contracts with Mexican luchador as health spokesman.
High-tech bee boosters
Cherry growers turn to tech companies to supplement honey bee pollination.
Cherry growers gather for annual pre-season meeting, predict 222,000-ton crop
Northwest cherry producers estimate they will ship 222,000 tons of sweet cherries in 2021, they
Washington extends and updates coronavirus worker housing rules
Washington workplace health and safety authorities have extended emergency rules for operating on-farm worker housing
Sending the blues overseas
Washington, Oregon growers launch blueberry marketing programs in Southeast Asia.
Northwest cherry growers predict 238,000-ton harvest
Bloom is barely over, but Northwest cherry growers have already made their first 2021 crop
A shot in the arm for the industry
Fruit companies begin vaccinating employees en masse in hopes of turning the pandemic corner.
Oregon extends bunk bed ban indefinitely
Oregon workplace safety and health authorities have indefinitely extended temporary agricultural labor housing rules intended
Sophomore slump for Cosmic Crisp?
Marketers point to pandemic pressure as Cosmic Crisp faces lower prices and slow movement.
Lack of calcium isn’t the problem
Look beyond adding calcium as a solution to calcium disorders.
Calcium for bitter pit: Save it, don’t spray it
Study shows calcium treatments do little to reduce bitter pit.
Judge limits some of Washington’s COVID-19 rules
In a ruling on April 21, a Yakima County judge struck down a few emergency
For Washington wine, the glasses are half full
The challenges for the state’s wine industry highlight a few bright spots.
Mission: Blue nutrition
Researchers adapt organic blueberry nutrition guidelines for arid Eastern Washington.