Three tomato varieties stood out at a free tasting near Decorah, where visitors sampled 22 entries and chose favorites for three different kitchen uses. The Aug. 22, 2026, event at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm did not produce one overall winner. Instead, participants selected a leading variety for slicing, cooking and eating fresh from the garden.

The category-based results give Decorah-area gardeners a practical starting point for researching tomatoes. A variety that works well in a sandwich or salad may not be the best choice for sauce, while a tomato selected for fresh snacking may appeal for its flavor right off the vine.

Which tomatoes led each category?

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

The results were based on the tasting participants’ preferences and are not a guarantee that the three varieties will outperform every other tomato in every garden around Decorah. Growing conditions, recipes and individual taste can influence plant performance and flavor.

What the results may mean for gardeners

Gardeners focused on sandwiches or salads may want to investigate Bookie. Those planning sauces or other cooked dishes could compare Rizzi Softball Plum with additional cooking varieties. Chocolate Cherry may appeal to people who enjoy eating tomatoes immediately after picking them.

Because visitors compared 22 varieties, the tasting introduced participants to tomatoes they might not otherwise have considered. Narrowing the choices to three varieties connected to common kitchen uses also created a more targeted list for further research.

Seeds and preservation at Heritage Farm

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

The 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.