>The imported junk we get from Netherlands is abysmal compared to anything grown locally
Considering how far north Netherlands is, and how gloomy the weather is, I'm not sure why anyone would think it's a good place to grow tomatoes. I thought Italy was the big tomato exporter in the EU.
Netherlands is one of the most agriculturally productive nations on the planet. They simply have the greenhouse industry, port and rail infrastructure to ship out what they grow very efficiently. You can get the best tomatoes in southern Europe but unless you turn that tomato sauce or can them it's going to waste. Tomatoes are some of the most difficult veg to ship. Ripening and transporting tomatoes is a tricky problem to get right.
Considering how far north Netherlands is, and how gloomy the weather is, I'm not sure why anyone would think it's a good place to grow tomatoes. I thought Italy was the big tomato exporter in the EU.