Gardeners near Decorah have three locally tested tomato varieties to consider after visitors sampled and voted during a free tasting Aug. 22, 2026, at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah. The event did not produce one overall winner. Instead, visitors chose a favorite for slicing, cooking and snacking.
That approach gives local gardeners a practical way to think about future plantings. The preferred variety may depend on whether a gardener wants tomatoes for sandwiches and salads, sauces and other cooked dishes, or eating fresh from the garden.
Which tomatoes won each category?
Bookie received the most support from visitors seeking a slicing tomato. Its selection was tied to fresh eating, making it the tasting’s choice for gardeners interested in slices for sandwiches, salads and similar meals.
Rizzi Softball Plum led the cooking category. Participants selected the variety for sauces and other cooked dishes, including uses that may appeal to gardeners who plan to prepare or preserve tomatoes.
Chocolate Cherry was the favorite among visitors who preferred eating tomatoes straight from the garden. Seed Savers Exchange listed seeds for the variety for purchase.
What the results mean for Decorah-area gardeners
The tasting provides a focused local reference, but it is not a guarantee that the three selections will outperform every other tomato in every garden around Decorah. Growing conditions, recipes and personal taste can affect plant performance and flavor.
The results also show why intended use matters. A tomato that performs well when sliced may not be the best choice for sauce or for eating on its own. Gardeners can use the category winners as a starting point, then compare them with their own growing conditions, recipes and preferences before deciding what to plant.
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 additional research and introduced participants to tomatoes that 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.