Gardeners near Decorah now have three locally tested tomato varieties to consider after visitors sampled and voted at a free Aug. 22, 2026, tasting at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah. The event produced no single overall winner. Instead, participants chose a favorite for each of three familiar kitchen uses: slicing, cooking and snacking.

The category-based results offer area gardeners a practical starting point for future plantings. The most suitable variety may depend on whether tomatoes are destined for sandwiches and salads, sauces and other cooked dishes, or eating directly from the garden.

Which tomatoes won each category?

  • Bookie: Visitors gave the most support to Bookie as a slicing tomato. It was selected for fresh eating, including slices for sandwiches, salads and similar meals.
  • Rizzi Softball Plum: This variety led the cooking category. Participants selected it for sauces and other cooked dishes, including uses that may appeal to gardeners planning to prepare or preserve tomatoes.
  • Chocolate Cherry: Chocolate Cherry was the favorite for visitors who preferred eating tomatoes directly from the garden. Seed Savers Exchange listed seeds for the variety for purchase.

What the results mean for Decorah-area gardeners

The tasting results provide a focused local reference, but they do not guarantee that the three winning varieties will outperform every other tomato in every garden around Decorah. Growing conditions, recipes and personal taste can all affect plant performance and flavor.

The category results also underscore the importance of intended use. A tomato that works well when sliced may not be the best choice for sauce or for eating on its own. Gardeners can use the winners as a starting point, then compare them with their growing conditions, recipes and personal preferences before deciding what to plant.

Visitors compared 22 varieties at the gathering, which brought together tomato lovers of all ages. Narrowing those entries to three varieties tied to common kitchen uses created a targeted list for additional research and introduced participants to tomatoes some visitors might not otherwise have considered.

Seed information and Heritage Farm’s role

Seed Savers Exchange provided follow-up information for gardeners interested in the selected varieties. Participants were directed to research Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum, while Chocolate Cherry seeds were available for purchase through the organization.

The free gathering was part of Seed Savers Exchange’s broader seed-preservation work at Heritage Farm near Decorah. Visitors sampled, compared and voted while learning more about the organization’s work with seeds and plant varieties.

Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Mountain Rose Herbs and Streamworks supported the tasting. Seed Savers Exchange also thanked the people who sampled the tomatoes, shared their opinions and voted.