Three tomato varieties emerged as the favorites at Seed Savers Exchange’s 2026 Tomato Tasting at Heritage Farm, giving Decorah-area gardeners a new list of varieties to consider. The free community event brought together tomato enthusiasts of all ages, who sampled 22 varieties before voting on their category favorites.
Seed Savers Exchange announced Bookie as the Slicer winner, Rizzi Softball Plum as the Cooking winner and Chocolate Cherry as the Snacking winner.
2026 tasting winners
- Slicer: Bookie
- Cooking: Rizzi Softball Plum
- Snacking: Chocolate Cherry
At Heritage Farm, participants compared the different tomatoes, discussed their preferences and cast votes to determine the final selections. The gathering was open to tomato lovers of all ages and centered on trying unfamiliar varieties while sharing opinions about the results.
Where gardeners can find the winning varieties
Seed Savers Exchange directed readers to its Exchange for Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum. Chocolate Cherry seeds were listed for purchase through the organization.
For Decorah-area residents interested in gardening or seed preservation, the winning varieties provide a starting point for exploring Seed Savers Exchange’s seed offerings. The tasting also received support from Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Mountain Rose Herbs and Streamworks.
Seed Savers Exchange thanked everyone who participated, including those who sampled the tomatoes, discussed the choices and voted. The results give local gardeners three crowd-selected varieties to look for as they plan future plantings.