> Perhaps the quality of flavor of the kiwi is just affected by the climate and soil. That's almost certainly what is happening, unless they have some separate

> Perhaps the quality of flavor of the kiwi is just affected by the climate and soil. That's almost certainly what is happening, unless they have some separate cultivar that was bred to better withstand the Italian climate where they are grown, which is also quite possible. Berries are an easy one to compare this effect to in North America - you can often tell the difference between a good growing year and a bad one from strawberries, which prefer hot springs and early summers with little rain, and will taste differently if they get cold temperatures and a very wet spring. Source: grew up in farm country, have picked single cultivar source berries for preserves/freezing/eating for many years.