OUR HISTORY

Arthur John Hillard arrived at Ellis Island in 1913 at the age of 17.  He traveled from his family farm in Somerset, England to Schenectady, New York.  In 1922 he purchased land in Colonie and started Hillard’s Greenhouse and Produce.

After Art retired, the farm was operated by his son William Samuel until his death in 1992.  William Samuel purchased additional farm land and built more greenhouses.   William’s son, William Arthur continued to expand the business until his death in 2007.

Today the business is managed by Ray and Nancy (Hillard) Lyon, their children and families, and a very few longtime valuable employees.  
     
 Over the past 100 years, the business has encountered numerous changes, but the importance of  our customers and the excellent quality of our product has not changed.