Decorah-area gardeners have three locally tested tomato varieties to consider after visitors at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah sampled and voted on 22 entries during a free Aug. 22, 2026, tasting. The event did not produce one overall winner. Instead, participants selected a favorite for each of three common kitchen uses: slicing, cooking and eating straight from the garden.
The category-based results give gardeners a practical starting point for future plantings, while recognizing that the best choice can depend on how tomatoes will be used. A variety suited to sandwiches and salads may not be the strongest option for sauces or fresh snacking.
Which tomato 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 who plan 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 tasting means for local gardeners
The results offer a focused local reference, but they do not guarantee that the three selected varieties will outperform every other tomato in every garden around Decorah. Growing conditions, recipes and individual taste can affect both plant performance and flavor.
The results also highlight why intended use matters when choosing plants. Gardeners who primarily want tomatoes for sandwiches or salads may want to investigate Bookie. Those planning sauces or other cooked dishes could compare Rizzi Softball Plum with other cooking varieties, while Chocolate Cherry may appeal to people who like to eat tomatoes directly after picking them.
Visitors compared 22 varieties at the gathering, which brought together tomato lovers of all ages. Reducing those entries to three varieties connected to familiar kitchen uses created a targeted list for further research and introduced participants to tomatoes they 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 tasting 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.