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
Cool cherry covers
British Columbia growers using Mylar covers to help protect freshly picked cherries.
IFTA B.C. tour: Some promising previews
Summerland shows off a few of its up and coming cherry varieties at IFTA.
IFTA B.C. tour: Light vision
Researcher gauging use of spectrometer to aid in harvest decisions.
IFTA B.C. tour: Lessons from Lake Country
IFTA tour hosts share tips on growing cherries.
New price for processed pears: $353 per ton
The new price is lower than the $360 per ton paid last year due to lower prices from the food service sector and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an influx of Chinese canned pears sold at lower than the cost of U.S. production.
IFTA B.C. tour: Land of late and lucrative cherries – Video
British Columbia growers double down to hit the late-season market.
Tree fruit added to U.S. relief program for food impacted by trade disputes
The Food Purchase and Distribution Program will buy up to $1.2 billion in food products “unfairly targeted by unjustified retaliation.”
New U.S. apple crop estimate revised downward
256.2 million bushel crop prediction on Day 2 of US Apple Outlook meeting is 6 percent lower than USDA's estimate from two weeks ago, largely based on changes in Washington's crop.
Gala on pace to topple Red Delicious’ reign
Day 1 at the 2018 US Apple Outlook: U.S. growers expect Red Delicious to yield its place as the leading variety by volume for the first time in more than 50 years.
A high-tech ball for berries
Berry Impact Recording Device rides along for harvest, packing.
New leader for Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission has named Ines Hanrahan as its executive director, replacing retiring manager Mike Willett.
Rough times for Reds
Once the most popular apple, Red Delicious is having a down year in the statistics game.
Shaking it up in the orchard: Video
WSU continues work on tiered shake-and-catch harvester.
Northwest pear crop on track to be fourth-largest ever
Now at 20.2 million boxes, crop estimate tops an early season prediction made in late June.
Washington apple forecast: 131 million boxes
Washington apple growers expect to harvest 131 million boxes of apples this year, down slightly from last year’s haul.
A bad blightmare of a year
Don’t stop cutting away fire blight after harvest, or a bad season will get worse.
That’s a wrap: IFTA summer tour concludes
A visit to a high-density Ambrosia and Honeycrisp orchard overlooking the upper stretches of Okanagan Lake brought the International Fruit Tree Association summer tour to a conclusion.
Where no cherry has gone before — IFTA BC tour Day 2
Tree fruit growers in British Columbia, Canada, are planting cherries in places where they won’t pick until mid-September.
IFTA tours Summerland research center’s genetic diversity
A glimpse of 30,000 apple varieties in various stages of propagation overlooking the shores of Okanagan Lake highlighted the first day of the International Tree Fruit Association summer tour through British Columbia.
Handle Geneva 41 with care
Popular G.41 rootstock takes extra work, but can succeed.
USDA extends labor housing program to growers putting up H-2A workers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture administrates loans and grants designed to employers who build or improve housing for farmworkers, but they had always been restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
WSU reveals its wild cider
Students start cider apple breeding program to learn techniques.
Tart growers target Turkey
U.S. tart cherry industry weighs legal challenge to low-price imports.
Mexico slaps tariffs on U.S. apples
Country's largest apple export market retaliates over steel and aluminum tariffs.
Plans within plants
Managing sheer number of samples, volume of data is focus for breeding program.
Post-Cosmic question: What’s next?
With launch of WA 38 underway, WSU’s apple breeding program hopes to build on successes.
Cherries chugging to China again
Cherry shipments to China seem to be moving again, just in time for the Northwest’s
Trade disputes broaden
U.S. fruit growers, already burdened with new tariffs from China, now have to deal with
Growing at a high level
Planting 60 percent Lapins. Wrapping trunks with insulation. Expecting some trees to die every year.
In case of smoke, take quick action
Wine grape growers should keep insurance in mind if they see smoke on the horizon