Three tomato varieties emerged as crowd favorites at Seed Savers Exchange’s 2026 Tomato Tasting near Decorah, giving area gardeners a shortlist to consider for future planting. Bookie won the Slicer category, Rizzi Softball Plum was selected for Cooking, and Chocolate Cherry took the Snacking category.
The results followed a free community event at Heritage Farm near Decorah, where attendees sampled, compared and ranked 22 tomato varieties. The gathering gave local gardeners an opportunity to taste tomatoes they might not have tried before and learn how different varieties could suit particular kitchen and garden uses.
Which tomatoes won?
Organizers did not name one overall winner. Instead, participants evaluated the entries in three categories based on intended use:
- Slicer: Bookie
- Cooking: Rizzi Softball Plum
- Snacking: Chocolate Cherry
Bookie was the crowd favorite among tomatoes intended to be eaten in slices. Rizzi Softball Plum received the top ranking for cooking, while Chocolate Cherry was favored as a snack.
Participants cast their votes after sampling the entries. Beyond identifying favorites, the tasting introduced attendees to a broad range of tomato types and connected the event with Seed Savers Exchange’s wider work preserving seeds.
What the results could mean for local gardeners
For gardeners planning next year’s beds, the tasting results provide a starting point organized around how they expect to use their harvest. Bookie may be worth investigating for fresh slices, Rizzi Softball Plum for cooking and Chocolate Cherry for snacking.
The results do not establish a single variety as the best choice for every garden or kitchen. They represent crowd favorites for the three uses included in the tasting, giving growers several options rather than one universal recommendation.
Gardeners interested in trying the winning varieties can investigate them through Seed Savers Exchange. The organization directed readers to its Exchange for Bookie and Rizzi Softball Plum, and Chocolate Cherry seeds were listed for purchase through Seed Savers Exchange.
About the Heritage Farm event
The tasting was open to tomato lovers of all ages and was held as a free community gathering at Heritage Farm near Decorah. Seed Savers Exchange said the event was supported by Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Mountain Rose Herbs and Streamworks.
The organization also thanked the people who sampled the tomatoes, shared their opinions and cast votes. For growers deciding what to plant next, the event points to three varieties to explore along with Seed Savers Exchange’s seed offerings and preservation work.