Three tomatoes emerged as the crowd favorites at a Seed Savers Exchange tasting near Decorah, giving local gardeners a practical list to research before planning next season’s garden.
Visitors sampled 22 entries during the free event at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah on Aug. 22, 2026. Instead of selecting one overall winner, participants voted based on how they expected to use the tomatoes in the kitchen.
Which tomatoes led each category?
Bookie was the preferred slicing tomato. Visitors liked it as a fresh-eating option for foods such as sandwiches and salads. Gardeners interested in those uses can research whether the variety fits their own growing plans.
Rizzi Softball Plum led the cooking category. The variety was identified as a possible choice for sauces and other cooked dishes, including recipes in which gardeners may want to prepare or preserve tomatoes. The tasting did not compare its performance across a full growing season.
Chocolate Cherry was the favorite among visitors who preferred eating tomatoes directly from the garden. Seeds were available for purchase through Seed Savers Exchange after the tasting, giving attendees a way to try the variety themselves.
What the results mean for Decorah-area gardeners
The voting linked each selection to a familiar use rather than ranking every tomato on a single scale. Someone planning sandwiches or salads may want to start by researching Bookie. Gardeners preparing sauces or other cooked dishes can compare Rizzi Softball Plum with other cooking varieties, while Chocolate Cherry may appeal to people who prefer a tomato immediately after picking.
The results are best viewed as a starting point, not a definitive ranking. The votes reflected visitor preferences at one event, rather than a season-long comparison of every variety or garden. Flavor and performance can vary with growing conditions and personal taste, and the three selections were not shown to outperform all other tomatoes for every purpose.
Sampling 22 entries also introduced visitors to varieties they might not otherwise have considered. Separating the voting into slicing, cooking and fresh-eating categories created a practical research list without declaring one tomato best for every garden, recipe or growing season.
Seeds and support for the tasting
Seed Savers Exchange provided follow-up information for people interested in the selected varieties. Attendees were directed to research Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum, while Chocolate Cherry seeds could be purchased 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 event.
Seed Savers Exchange also thanked the people who sampled the tomatoes, shared their opinions and voted.