William Howard Riley—Grandpa Riley to us—was born in Woods Cross, Utah in 1926 with a pioneering spirit and a fun-loving wit and grin. He struck out on his own early on, volunteering in the Navy during the Second World War and serving in the Pacific for three years before returning to Utah. The time he spent serving his country forever changed him, and has helped to instill a deep gratitude and love for our great country in all his posterity. Back at home, he married his sweetheart, Shirley, and began working a series of manual labor jobs.

While living in Bountiful, his father-in-law, Clarence “Bob” Roberts, who was a produce salesman, asked the young couple what they thought about moving to Payson to become farmers and grow fruit. Their first reply to the inquiry was, “where in the world is Payson?!” With Bob’s support, they moved to Payson, Utah in 1952. There, Howard and Shirley worked tirelessly to begin what would become a series of thriving orchards and a generations-long family passion for growing fruit. 

Grandpa passed the farming spirit on to his son Alan, who, with his wife Christine, set out to run a farm of their own in the 1970s in nearby Genola, Utah. Their son, Christopher, has from childhood been a true-blue farmer at heart, and in 2011 he officially joined the team to carry on the time-honored legacy passed down through generations.

Grandpa Riley passed away in 2012, and Grandma Riley in 2018, but their dedication to the land and love for family farming lives on in their children and grandchildren who run Riley Family Farms today. We commit each day to growing the most delicious Utah produce, and getting it to our customers as quickly as possible to ensure the best nutrition and taste possible. We strive to be a reliable resource for wholesome, naturally ripened fruit and vegetables—and we love developing personal friendships with our customers throughout the state!