Decorah-area gardeners searching for tomatoes to grow, cook or eat fresh have three varieties to investigate after visitors at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah selected category favorites during a free Aug. 22, 2026, tasting.

The tasting did not produce one overall winner. Instead, participants sampled, compared and voted on 22 tomato varieties, choosing a leading entry for three different kitchen uses. That approach gives local gardeners a more practical starting point based on whether they want tomatoes for sandwiches and salads, sauces and other cooked dishes, or fresh snacking straight from the garden.

Which tomatoes led each category?

  • Bookie: Visitors gave Bookie the most support 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.

For gardeners around Decorah, the results can help narrow the list of varieties worth researching. People focused on sandwiches or salads may want to look into Bookie. Gardeners planning sauces or other cooked dishes could compare Rizzi Softball Plum with additional cooking varieties, while Chocolate Cherry may appeal to those who enjoy eating tomatoes immediately after picking them.

A starting point, not a growing guarantee

The tasting results do not guarantee that any of the three selected varieties will outperform every other tomato in every Decorah-area garden. Growing conditions, recipes and personal taste can affect both plant performance and flavor.

Because visitors compared 22 entries, the event also introduced participants to tomatoes they might not otherwise have considered. Reducing the results to three varieties connected to common kitchen uses created a focused list for further research rather than declaring one tomato the best choice for every purpose.

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.