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
- Ag tech weeding out inefficiencies in weed control — Video
—Water, electricity and other new tools lead the industry’s drive for a better weeder, which many in fruit and grape industries say is an easier problem to solve than others. - Bringing a foundation to irrigation automation—Walla Walla, Washington, company focuses on building nigh-indestructible valves and solenoids that underpin the tree fruit industry’s march toward irrigation automation.
- USDOL announces new Adverse Effect Wage RatesThe U.S. Department of Labor has announced new Adverse Effect Wage Rates. The AEWR rates, state-by-state wage floors that growers who hire H-2A workers must… Read more: USDOL announces new Adverse Effect Wage Rates
- Soil and sensors featured at viticulture field day in Eastern WashingtonAbout 50 people participated in a viticulture field day on July 30 that swung from basic get-your-hands-dirty soil health to the interconnectivity of vineyard sensors.… Read more: Soil and sensors featured at viticulture field day in Eastern Washington
- Scouting for scorch—Researchers and other blueberry experts continue probing the extent of blueberry scorch virus spread in Eastern Washington, home to many organic growers who had never before needed to control for aphids.
- Bonsai Robotics holds Washington demosA Bay Area ag tech startup held grower demonstrations of its autonomous platforms on July 22 in Washington’s Yakima Valley as the company courts the… Read more: Bonsai Robotics holds Washington demos
- Problems persist for canning peach crop—California canning peach growers are using federal help to remove about 50,000 tons of fruit after Del Monte announced the closure of its two canning facilities.
- Gentle giants harvesting blueberries — Video—The blueberry industry continues to mechanically harvest more fruit for the fresh market with Oxbo and FineField emerging as the front-runners.
- Pear pangs continue for canning crop—In the wake of Del Monte’s bankruptcy, the Northwest canned pear industry is giving itself one more year of collective promotions, hoping for the remaining processor to boost volume and for California growers to pitch in a little.
- Brewster Heights bankruptcy sheds light on dire economics of the industry—The June bankruptcy filing of Brewster Heights Packing and Orchards showed how multiple years of rising costs and low returns are affecting the nation’s agricultural titans, not to mention public utilities, irrigation districts and even the federal treasury.
- State’s rights for Cosmic Crisp—As Washington State University extends the state’s Cosmic Crisp exclusivity period for another five years, growers opine on how their returns go down but the university still reaps the same royalties.
- Smoking out some answers for winemakersOver the past five years, scientists up and down the West Coast have made incremental progress on understanding the nuances of how wildfires affect grapes… Read more: Smoking out some answers for winemakers
