Three tomato varieties emerged as local favorites after visitors at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah sampled and voted during a free tasting: Bookie for slicing, Rizzi Softball Plum for cooking and Chocolate Cherry for snacking.
The Aug. 22, 2026, event brought together tomato lovers of all ages, who compared 22 varieties rather than choosing one overall winner. The category-based results give Decorah-area gardeners a practical starting point when deciding which tomatoes to investigate for fresh eating, prepared dishes or garden snacks.
Three varieties, three uses
- Bookie: favored for fresh slices.
- Rizzi Softball Plum: selected for cooking, including sauces and other cooked dishes.
- Chocolate Cherry: chosen for snacking straight from the garden.
Bookie received the most support among visitors looking for a slicing tomato. Rizzi Softball Plum led the cooking category, while Chocolate Cherry was the favorite for participants who preferred eating tomatoes directly from the garden.
The results are a focused local reference, not a guarantee that the three varieties will outperform every other tomato in every Decorah-area garden. Growing conditions, recipes and personal taste can influence both plant performance and flavor. A tomato that works well in fresh slices may not be the best choice for sauce or for eating on its own.
What gardeners can do next
By narrowing the field from 22 entries to three varieties linked to common kitchen uses, the tasting offered a more targeted research list than a single overall ranking. It also gave participants an opportunity to encounter varieties they might not otherwise have considered.
Seed Savers Exchange provided follow-up information for gardeners interested in the favorites. 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 use the tasting categories as a starting point, then compare the options with their own growing conditions, recipes and preferences.
A Heritage Farm seed-preservation event
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.