Plums can be grown in central and southern Illinois, but cannot handle the colder northern winters. Plums can be sweet or tart. Usually the skin of the plum is the tartest part of the fruit. Try slicing plums over yogurt for a delicious snack.
Look for plums with firm and smooth skin, avoid those with bruises, soft spots, or cuts. Store ripe plums in the refrigerator and unripe plums in a paper bag at room temperature until plums reach desired ripeness.