Three tomato varieties emerged as local favorites after visitors sampled 22 entries during a free tasting at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm near Decorah on Aug. 22, 2026. Rather than naming one overall winner, participants chose a favorite for slicing, cooking and eating fresh from the garden.
The category-based results offer Decorah-area gardeners a short list to investigate for next season. They also come with an important limitation: the votes reflect visitor preferences at one tasting, not a season-long comparison of every tomato variety or garden in the area.
Which tomatoes led each category?
Bookie was the preferred slicing tomato. According to the tasting report, visitors liked it as a fresh-eating option, including for sandwiches and salads. Gardeners who want tomatoes for those uses may want to research how Bookie fits their own growing plans.
Rizzi Softball Plum led the cooking category. Participants selected the variety for sauces and other cooked dishes, making it a possible choice for gardeners who plan to prepare or preserve tomatoes.
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 direct way to explore the variety.
What the results mean for gardeners
The tasting’s three-way format gives gardeners a practical starting point based on familiar kitchen uses. Someone focused on sandwiches or salads may want to look into Bookie. Those planning sauces or other cooked dishes can compare Rizzi Softball Plum with other cooking varieties, while Chocolate Cherry may appeal to people who enjoy eating tomatoes immediately after picking them.
However, the results do not establish a single best tomato for every garden, recipe or growing season. Flavor and performance can change with growing conditions and personal taste. The three varieties were chosen because attendees liked them during this particular event, rather than because they outperformed all other entries over a full growing season.
Sampling 22 entries also introduced visitors to varieties they might not otherwise have considered. Organizing the results around slicing, cooking and fresh eating helped turn those votes into a focused research list without declaring one tomato superior for every purpose.
Seed information and event support
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.