Crop Guides
| How RLF Adds Value to your Crop

RLF plays an important part in the production of food crops in many parts of the world.

RLF is a major contributor to plant health and nutrition, and has developed new and exciting technologies to advance crop quality and yield. It's 'Integrated Fertiliser Approach' has a positive influence on achieving the increased crop yields necessary as demand for food grows.

RLF is committed to its role of providing the best possible outcomes and products for agriculture and is a proud partner to farmers and growers throughout the world.

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Grapes

Fast Facts
  • It is estimated that land size equivalent to 75,000 sq km is dedicated to grape-growing throughout the world, with 70% of the produce used for wine, 27% for fresh fruit and the remainder as dried fruit. The land area planted with vines increases with every year.
  • The worlds top four countries producing grapes for wine-making are Spain, France, Italy and Turkey. Australia is in ninth position.
  • The cultivation of the domesticated grape began 6,000 – 8,000 years ago in the Near East, believed to be Georgia.
  • Most grapes grown in the world today come from cultivars of Vitis vinifera, although there are other species specific to different cultures such as V. amurensis, the most important Asian species.
  • The most widely planted variety of grape is Sultana (Thompson Seedless) with popular wine-making grapes being Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Grenache, Tempranillo, Riesling and Chardonnay.
  • An Integrated Fertiliser Program using RLF products can greatly enhance crop quality and yield.
  • Commercially cultivated grapes can usually be classified as either table or wine grapes.
  • The phenomenon termed 'the French paradox' came about when researchers discovered that although the French tend to eat higher levels of animal fat than many other western countries the incidence of heart disease remained low.
  • Grapes bring with them religious significance, as in the Bible grapes are first mentioned when Noah grew them on his farm (see Genesis 9:20-21) and several Old Testament books give instructions concerning the use of wine during Jewish feasts.
  • Grapes featured as an important influence to both the ancient Greeks and the Romans with their god of agriculture Dionysus wearing grape-leaves on 
    his head.

Grapes