Area gardeners looking for ideas for next year’s planting now have three crowd-tested tomato varieties to investigate. Visitors at a free Seed Savers Exchange tasting at Heritage Farm near Decorah sampled and ranked 22 varieties on August 22, 2026, choosing separate favorites for slicing, cooking and snacking.
The event did not name one overall champion. Instead, participants voted after tasting the entries and evaluated each tomato according to how it might be used in the kitchen. That approach produced a practical shortlist rather than a single recommendation for every garden or meal.
Three categories, three favorites
- Slicer: Bookie
- Cooking: Rizzi Softball Plum
- Snacking: Chocolate Cherry
Bookie received the highest ranking among tomatoes intended to be eaten in slices. Rizzi Softball Plum led the cooking category, while Chocolate Cherry received the strongest support as a snack.
The category results give growers a way to match a variety with an expected harvest use. Gardeners planning to eat fresh tomatoes in slices may want to investigate Bookie. Those expecting to use their harvest in cooked dishes could look into Rizzi Softball Plum. Chocolate Cherry may appeal to people who prefer eating tomatoes directly from the garden.
What the tasting means for Decorah-area gardeners
The rankings are crowd favorites from this particular tasting, not universal guidance for every garden or kitchen. Growing conditions, personal taste and intended recipes can all affect which variety works best. The event’s results provide several options to explore rather than declaring one tomato suited to everyone.
For local gardeners, the tasting also offered a chance to encounter tomato types they may not have previously tried. The gathering was connected to Seed Savers Exchange’s broader seed-preservation work, tying the community event to the organization’s effort to preserve varieties.
Gardeners interested in the three winners can investigate them through Seed Savers Exchange’s Exchange. The organization directed readers there for Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum, and Chocolate Cherry seeds were listed for purchase through Seed Savers Exchange.
The tasting was open to tomato lovers of all ages. Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Mountain Rose Herbs and Streamworks supported the event, and Seed Savers Exchange thanked the people who sampled the tomatoes, offered their opinions and cast votes.
For growers deciding what to plant next, the Heritage Farm results offer three starting points—one for fresh slicing, one for cooking and one for snacking—alongside Seed Savers Exchange’s seed offerings and preservation work.