Ross Courtney

Washington winemakers tasting intentionally smoke-tainted research wine

Smoking out some answers for winemakers

June 11, 2026

Andy Kay, CEO of Manzana Products, shows work in progress at the French company’s organic apple processing facility in April at the former Seneca Foods pear cannery in Sunnyside, Washington.

Washington apple industry welcomes a new processor

June 9, 2026

Logos for Gebbers Farms and Legendary Fruit Co.

Legendary Fruit announces intent to buy Gebbers Farms amid latter’s bankruptcy filing

June 5, 2026

WineVit to split into two one-day events

June 3, 2026

A scene from the Oregon State University preharvest cherry tour on May 27, 2026, near The Dalles, Oregon. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

Tomato ringspot, varieties and housing highlight Oregon preharvest cherry tour

May 28, 2026

Farmers have it tough across the country, American Farm Bureau Federation economist Faith Parum told fruit growers in April at an Oregon State University symposium in The Dalles. Across all commodities, farmers receive less than 6 cents of every dollar spent on food in the United States. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

A money mindset for tree fruit farms

May 27, 2026

Tour-goers check out the sickle blade of a mechanical hedger in June 2025 during the 10th International Cherry Symposium in Pasco, Washington. Some growers mechanically hedge just before harvest to boost fruit quality. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Cherry growers trimming just a little off the sides

May 26, 2026

Court Wyckoff, CEO of Wyckoff Farms, says Ste. Michelle Wine Estates still needs to purchase grapes from outside growers and plans to honor contracts. The Wyckoff family purchased Washington’s largest winery in December. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

A new era for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

May 19, 2026

Cherry growers and industry representatives huddle in geographical groups to discuss the anticipated size of the 2026 crop at the annual five-state Northwest Cherry Growers meeting on May 13, 2026, in Richland, Washington. They settled on 18.4 million 20-pound box equivalents. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

Northwest cherry growers estimate an 18.4-million-box harvest

May 13, 2026

Lupe Muñoz, a longtime Central Washington orchard manager, captains a cherry harvest in June 2025 for River Valley Fruit near Grandview, Washington. The Mexican immigrant received legal status during the 1986 amnesty program and became a U.S. citizen in 1991. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

Los jefes in Washington’s fruit industry

May 7, 2026