Clemson hires new Musser Farm manager

Published: November 17, 2010

CLEMSON — The journey from the highlands of Ethiopia to foothills of South Carolina have provided a bounty of experience for Jeff Hopkins, the new manager of Clemson University's Musser Fruit Research Center. One thing he’s learned is how to make a good cup of coffee.

Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, N.C., on a beef cattle farm, Hopkins earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture environmental technology from North Carolina State University. The next step in his career would take him 7,335 miles east to Ethiopia.

“I was an intern for a year at a nonprofit tropical agriculture organization where I specialized in semi-arid crops, irrigation systems and seed banking,” said Hopkins.

After the internship he stayed with the organization working with tropical and sub-tropical farm development. Leaving the nonprofit, Hopkins had helped introduce low chill temperate fruits and mild subtropical fruits to the high-highlands of Ethiopia.

“We worked at about 7,000 feet of elevation in an area that was known for its three rainy seasons per year, deep soils, long heritage of farming and recurring famine,” he said.

The work consisted of fruit tree development, reforestation efforts with native species and animal fodder improvement in an effort to improve the region and to establish agriculture businesses. One product in particular intrigued Hopkins.

"Ethiopia considers itself the birthplace of coffee, and I developed quite the connoisseur’s taste for freshly roasted fine Ethiopian coffee,” said Hopkins.

Following his time in Ethiopia, Hopkins enrolled in graduate studies at Columbia International University in Columbia and did a stint in the construction industry — a set of skills often needed on the research farm.

Most of Clemson’s peach research takes place at the Musser Farm located at Oconee Point in Seneca. The 240-acre fruit-tree research farm grows a collection of commercial peach cultivars and related wild species, including nectarine, almond, apricot and plum trees.

The facilities consist of nearly 6,000 square feet of “wet chemistry” laboratory space, offices, a greenhouse, lathe house, walk-in cold rooms, post-harvest storage rooms and two growth chambers.

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