Gardeners around Decorah have three tomato varieties to add to their research lists after visitors at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah chose favorites in three everyday categories. Participants sampled 22 varieties during a free tomato tasting on Aug. 22, 2026, selecting Bookie for slicing, Rizzi Softball Plum for cooking and Chocolate Cherry for snacking.
The tasting did not name one overall winner. Instead, participants matched each preferred tomato with a familiar garden or kitchen use. That approach gives home growers a more practical way to compare the results: the variety that works best for fresh slices may not be the same one a gardener wants for sauce or for eating straight from the garden.
The three varieties visitors favored
- For slicing: Bookie
- For cooking: Rizzi Softball Plum
- For snacking: Chocolate Cherry
Bookie received the most support from visitors seeking a tomato for fresh slices. Rizzi Softball Plum led the cooking category, making it a variety for gardeners to investigate for sauces and other cooked dishes. Chocolate Cherry was the favorite among participants who preferred eating tomatoes directly from the garden.
The category results provide Decorah-area gardeners with a focused local reference, but they do not guarantee that one variety will perform best in every garden. Growing conditions, recipes and individual taste can affect both how tomatoes grow and how they taste.
What the tasting means for home growers
By narrowing 22 entries to three names connected to common uses, the event created a more targeted starting point than a single overall ranking. It also introduced participants to varieties they might not otherwise have considered.
Seed Savers Exchange provided follow-up information for people interested in the selected tomatoes. Participants were directed to research Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum, while Chocolate Cherry seeds were listed for purchase through the organization. Gardeners planning a future crop can therefore begin with Bookie for slicing, Rizzi Softball Plum for cooking or Chocolate Cherry for snacking, then decide which options fit their own growing conditions, recipes and preferences.
A seed-preservation event near Decorah
The free gathering was open to tomato lovers of all ages and formed 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 participants who sampled the tomatoes, shared their opinions and voted.