Martha’s Vineyard is where the wild things are from July to January, and Chris Parsons, owner/chef of Catch at The Terrace in Edgartown, Massachusetts, knows just where to ‘catch’ them… if he can! Beach Plums - not much larger than rose hips, grow wild and ripen in August and September. Islanders keep a close eye on harvest time, as they scoop them up so fast to make their seasonal jams, preserves, and flavored syrups. Known for his innovative interpretations of classic New England (and Mediterranean) fare, Parsons serves these sweet-and-tart fruits in delicious late-summer preparations. September’s warm days and cool nights also make it the best month for the Vineyard’s homegrown heirloom tomatoes, including Peach Tomato, Brandywine, Yellow Taxi, and Hillbilly varieties, which Parsons serves in everything from bright salads to flavorful reductions. The tomatoes are most unique as they grow later there than most around the country.

If it’s ocean fish and shellfish you’re after, something wild is always in season in the island’s waters. August is the month when sport fisherman brave the seas to hook wild tuna. In September and October, the fall migrations begin and striped bass, bluefish, and bonito swarm past the island. The descendent of a long line of fishing enthusiasts, Parsons grew up catching (and cooking) these very fish, which is why he knows how to handle them with just the right touch. When the water gets chillier, the shellfish get sweeter, and members of the Wampanoag tribe—the Vineyards’ first inhabitants—harvest Nantucket Bay and Vineyard scallops. While the idea of wading in the island’s frigid waters in November and December may seem daunting, the Wampanoags know that the incomparable taste of these delicate fruits-de-mer will make it completely worth their “wild.”