I don't know if he mentions it in his book - but vegetable tastes have been a major casualty of their selection for supermarket, where ability to look good and normal for a long time in a supermarket stall, and easiness of transportation, are the major aims ; predictably, as it is not selected for any more, taste declines. Some of the stuff that passes as tomatoes, even here in France, is barely edible !

What about EU norms for taste !?!

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères