Three tomato varieties emerged as the favorites at Seed Savers Exchange’s 2026 Tomato Tasting at Heritage Farm, giving Decorah-area gardeners a fresh list of varieties to try. Attendees sampled 22 tomatoes and voted for winners in three categories during the free community event.
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
The event brought together tomato lovers of all ages at Heritage Farm. Participants sampled the different varieties, debated their preferences and cast votes to determine the final selections.
Where to 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 residents interested in gardening and seed preservation, the winning tomatoes offer a starting point for exploring Seed Savers Exchange’s seed offerings. The gathering also had support from Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Mountain Rose Herbs and Streamworks.
Seed Savers Exchange thanked everyone who took part, including those who sampled the tomatoes, discussed the choices and voted.