After one of the most challenging growing seasons in more than a decade, table grape operation Natale Farms of Robinvale, Victoria has reported exceptional results in berry size, firmness, and weather resilience by integrating new bio-nutrition product, Cellmate, into its crop management program.
The multi-generational family business, which dates back to 1952, is operated by Phil Natale, his wife Teresa, and son Joseph.
The Natales produce six premium table grape varieties across 60ha – Crimson Seedless, Adora, Thompson Seedless, Autumn Crisp, Midnight Beauty, and Ruby Rush with a progressive annual harvest ranging from christmas to May, depending on conditions.
The Natales trialled Sumitomo Chemical Australia’s latest calcium bio-nutrition product across four premium varieties, Crimson Seedless, Adora, Thompson Seedless, and Autumn Crisp after the crucial fruit-set period late last year. The results have been transformative for the farm’s export-quality fruit.
Despite a season marked by more than 160mm of rain, high humidity, and temperatures soaring to 45°C, Natale Farms successfully harvested Thompson Seedless grapes well into March – two weeks longer than many local competitors.
Joseph credits Cellmate – used in combination with Sumitomo’s plant growth regulator ProGibb for the result.
“The berries are nice and large, with sizing reaching 22mm-23mm compared with the usual 18mm-20mm,” he says.
“We believe Cellmate helped the fruit survive the tough weather conditions. ProGibb on its own can only do so much, but when combined with Cellmate, did so much more.”
With 80 per cent of the farm's produce destined for Asia, uniformity and crunch are the primary benchmarks for success.
Joseph says they initially turned to Cellmate to solve a specific issue: a small, freckle-like marking that had previously appeared on fruit when using Gibberellic Acid products.
“The combination of Cellmate and ProGibb worked – it didn’t mark the fruit. We were keen to use Cellmate because the calcium in it gives you the cell division required to make grapes grow bigger and in the grape export market, the bigger the better.”
Don Albanese, account manager at Robinvale Ag (a division of Swan Hill Chemicals) introduced Cellmate to Natale Farms as soon as it became available in October 2025.
He says Cellmate’s effectiveness is in its unique formulation.
The liquid nutrient is designed for foliar applications to provide calcium and essential nutrients.
“The beauty of Cellmate is it has Transit Duo in it, a powerful bio-stimulant to help with the uptake and mobilisation of calcium, boron and molybdenum elements within the plant,” he says.
“Natale Farms used it in late October and November after fruit set.
“When the berry starts gaining size, cells divide, and Cellmate aids that process. From what I can see, it’s doing a very good job at Natale Farms.”
He says the product was a proactive, affordable measure offering a two-pronged attack when used alongside ProGibb and sizing agent Prestige, also from the Sumitomo range, and in conjunction with good crop management.
“We had multiple customers trial Cellmate, with most using it to gain extra fruit size and firmness in berries. It is a product that most said they would try again,” Don explains.
Following the success of the trial, Natale Farms plans to increase the application rate from 1-2L/1000L this season to 3-4L/1000L next season.
“We’re pretty impressed and will be using it for all varieties from now on. Just when we use it will depend on the weather. If hot weather comes on early, it will be November, if it’s cold, it will be late November-December,” Joseph adds.
“I would say to others, it’s worth giving it a go if size and uniformity are your goals.”
