According to several sources on line, the rule is to NOT use the article with feminine country names when referring to the country as a specific place of origin (le fromage de France), or similar, but that the article IS used when referring to a feminine gender country as a political or economic entity, or in an abstract/general sense (la géographie de la France). 

This is not specific to France, but applies to all feminine gender countries. 

One link below which gives a number of examples of the rule in action : 

https://www.intermarkls.com/single-post/2015/07/11/the-french-they-never-taught-you-22-de-france-or-de-la-france