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 drew tomato enthusiasts of all ages, who sampled 22 varieties before voting in three categories.
Which tomatoes won
Seed Savers Exchange announced Bookie as the winner in the Slicer category, Rizzi Softball Plum as the Cooking winner and Chocolate Cherry as the Snacking winner.
- Slicer: Bookie
- Cooking: Rizzi Softball Plum
- Snacking: Chocolate Cherry
Participants at Heritage Farm compared the tomatoes, discussed their preferences and cast votes to determine the final selections. The event focused on trying unfamiliar varieties and sharing opinions about the results, while remaining open to tomato lovers of all ages.
Where to find the winning varieties
For gardeners planning future plantings in the Decorah area, Seed Savers Exchange directed readers to its Exchange for Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum. Chocolate Cherry seeds were listed for purchase through the organization.
The three winners offer local gardeners a starting point for exploring Seed Savers Exchange’s seed offerings and learning more about seed preservation. The tasting received support from Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Mountain Rose Herbs and Streamworks.
Seed Savers Exchange thanked the people who sampled the tomatoes, discussed the choices and voted. The results provide three crowd-selected varieties for gardeners to look for as they plan future gardens.