Visitors to our Community Education Garden rank and vote on their favorite tomatoes in our annual tomato tasting event, and learn tips for growing these summer favorites.
We thank Winton MFG. Compost Works for supporting and sponsoring this popular event on August 15, 2026. Join us 10 am to noon at the Garden on Western at Springwater, in Wenatchee, WA.
Join us on the third Saturday in August:
• Sample known and not-so-well-known tomato varieties
• Discover your favorite tomatoes to grow next year
• Your votes have a direct impact on the varieties we offer in our spring plant sale
• A diagnostics team is available to answer questions and help solve your gardening problems
Which varieties were rated highest by our tasters in 2024?
We asked attendees to rate their favorite tomatoes in categories: Overall, Heirloom, Cherry, Hybrid, and Paste. The voting results are:
- Overall favorite: Sun Sugar, a cherry – 17 votes; Paul Robeson, an heirloom – 7; Sunrise Bumblebee, a cherry – 5; Super Fantastic, a hybrid – 4. Many ballots did not select an overall favorite.
- Heirlooms: Paul Robeson – 22 votes; Brandywine – 15; Gold Medal – 14; Subarctic Plenty and Blue Beauty tied-10 each. The heirloom category had by far the largest selection of varieties
- Hybrids: Super Fantastic – 37; Early Doll – 16; Defiant – 14
- Cherry: Sun Sugar – 41; Sun Gold and Sunrise Bumblebee tied – 13; Super Sweet 100 – 12
- Paste: San Marzano – 37; Cour di Bue – 30; Ox Heart – 15
Are you growing tomatoes? Read Growing Tomatoes in Home Gardens (PDF) from WSU
You sampled tomatoes, now try tomato recipes Master Gardeners share with the Tomato Tasting Gala – 2024 (PDF) – 2023 (PDF)