NJ Beach Plums a Sign of Summer’s End

A tart taste of the end of summer is on tap at the Jersey shore Sunday.

Island Beach State Park will hold its annual beach plum festival, celebrating the tangy fruit that grows wild along the length of the nearly 10-mile island. It can also be found elsewhere on the shore, including Cape May, and thrives along the east coast from Maine to Maryland.

The festival, held the Sunday after Labor Day, features the plum's use in jelly, ice cream and even brandy, with recipe books and samples available.

Native Americans picked the plums for use in cooking, and early American settlers used them for jams and jelly.