The fruits are rarely harvested for human use because it is terribly bitter (& potentially toxic) until fully ripe, and a little bitter even when ripe. They were a common harvest for Native Americans, eaten fresh or preserved in bear fat. The bark was used by Native Americans to make a tonic tea & laxative. For today's palates they certainly can be tasty if prepared as cooked, sieved, & sweetened jelly. Birds, squirrels, bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons & deer all eat these fruits. Because birds like them a great deal they don't remain long on the branches, & bird-netting might be required in order to harvest the fruits to make jelly.
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I just collected 2 liters of Indian Plum today. Can't wait to make some jelly. The raw fruit tastes and smells like cucumbers. First it's sweet then it's cucumbery. I was surprised to find so much ripe fruit but evidence of birds was obvious.
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