This is SeaTalk: Ocean News from the University of Delaware.

Each spring, beach plums decorate Delaware’s coastline with delicate white clusters of blooms. But come autumn, the native shrubs provide a tasty encore presentation. Beach plums thrive in the sandy soils of Delaware’s harsh coastal environment, where they often take the form of rounded shrubs that are 3 to 4 feet tall. They also can be found growing in sunny areas further inland, where they may be more tree-shaped and reach up to 10 feet in height. The fruits are about a half-inch in diameter and purple in color when they mature in the fall. They tend to have a sour taste, even when thoroughly ripe. However, small-scale jam producers transform the fruit into delicacies, supplying farm stands and specialty markets with a sweet treat prized by local residents. This is SeaTalk, a public service announcement from the University of Delaware, the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, and this station.