The author mistakes Europe with Italy. North of the 45th parallel the tomatoe experience is very similar to that of the US. And even in the south - the area of Almeria in Spain is the home of the most mass produced, tasteless vegetables possible. Sadly, Northern Europeans also focus on price and color, not on smell and taste. EU regulations for fruit and vegetable trading classes only consider form, size, color. Nothing about taste. The closest to getting good produce (except for buying at the producer) is to look for organic produce.