Gardeners near Decorah have three crowd-tested tomato varieties to consider for next year after visitors at a free Seed Savers Exchange tasting sampled and ranked 22 entries at Heritage Farm on August 22, 2026.

The event did not produce one overall champion. Instead, participants evaluated each tomato according to how it could be used in the kitchen, creating separate favorites for fresh slicing, cooking and snacking.

Three categories, three favorites

  • Slicing: 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 drew the strongest support as a snack.

For local growers, the results offer a practical way to connect a variety with an expected harvest use. Gardeners planning to eat tomatoes fresh in slices may want to investigate Bookie. Those expecting to use their harvest in cooked dishes could look into Rizzi Softball Plum, while Chocolate Cherry may appeal to people who prefer eating tomatoes directly from the garden.

What the results mean for local gardeners

The rankings represent crowd favorites from this particular tasting, not universal guidance for every garden or kitchen. Growing conditions, personal taste and intended recipes can affect which variety performs best for an individual gardener.

That means the Heritage Farm results are a shortlist of options rather than a declaration that one tomato is right for everyone. The tasting also gave participants a chance to encounter varieties they may not have tried before.

The gathering was connected to Seed Savers Exchange’s broader seed-preservation work. Gardeners interested in the winners can investigate them through the organization’s Exchange. Seed Savers Exchange directed readers there for Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum, while Chocolate Cherry seeds were listed for purchase through the organization.

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 those who sampled the tomatoes, shared their opinions and voted.

For growers choosing what to plant next, the event provides three starting points: Bookie for slicing, Rizzi Softball Plum for cooking and Chocolate Cherry for snacking, along with access to Seed Savers Exchange’s seed offerings and preservation work.