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
Water, water nowhere, but apples get enough to drink
In Western Sonoma County, apples can grow sans irrigation while drought looms across much of California.
Blueberry council honors Bernadine Strik
Bernadine Strik, a veteran horticulture professor and berry crop specialist at Oregon State University, has
Blueberry councils hire Leslie Wada as nutrition research director
Leslie Wada Leslie Wada, a longtime blueberry research consultant has been hired as the senior
Grab bag boom
Shippers adjust to increased demand for bags accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Crop coverage complexity
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insurance is attractive to specialty crops, but be sure to know what you are signing up for.
Washington wine industry taking comment on sustainability program
The Washington wine industry has opened public comment on its new vineyard sustainability certification program.
WSU leads Cosmic Crisp field days as harvest approaches
Washington State University led a field day focused on WA 38, the apple marketed as
Gem reaches Year 3
Producers of dual-threat pear now have enough volume to market more aggressively.
Timing is everything for Cosmic Crisp
Harvest window key to avoiding greasiness for WA 38.
Toward precision pear packing
For Anjous, ripening efforts begin to pay off.
Putting IPM to work
Wenatchee Valley pear growers implement integrated pest management strategies to help control pear psylla.
Northwest growers anticipate average pear crop of 16.1 million boxes
Northwest pear producers anticipate a crop of 16.1 million standard box equivalents, on par with
Learning from the heat wave
Cherry industry loses 20 percent of the crop to heat and wonders about future impacts.
Propane orchard weed burners exempted from Washington burn ban
The state of Washington has exempted orchard weed control by propane burner from a statewide
Zoning in on ozone
Researchers put pest and disease control alternatives to trial.
Labor apps on tap
Users share how they chose from a growing field of labor tracking apps.
Fruit industry faces cyber insecurity
Employee training key to preventing ransomware attacks.
Not just little cherry
OSU extension horticulturist spreads messages of “other” viruses affecting cherry growers.
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.