This award is open to all growers & producers in the RDA Grampians region. LGAs include: Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera, and Yarriambiack Shire.
This award recognises the outstanding growers and producers who shape our vibrant culinary scene.
Voting closes 11.59pm Sunday 12 July, 2026.
Votes will be calculated and the top three will be recognised on Thursday 23 July at the Finalist Event.
The winner will be announced Thursday 27 August at the 2026 Federation University Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards Gala Night.
Black & Ginger Wines is a small-batch Grampians wine producer crafting honest, expressive wines that reflect the region they come from. Founded by winemaker Hadyn Black and Darcy, ‘the ginger’, with Lucy Black driving the brand, the team brings passion, personality and a genuine love of wine to everything they do. Halliday-listed and independently minded, Black & Ginger has built a loyal following through quality in the glass and warmth beyond it — with a wine shed cellar door in Pomonal serving as the heart of the operation offering unique tasting experiences and regular events. A proudly local business making a real contribution to the Grampians.
Black Cat Truffles is a family-owned truffle farm, restaurant, and artisan producer located in regional Victoria. We specialise in growing premium French black truffles and crafting a range of truffle products including truffle oil, truffle butter, honey, mustard, salt, and gourmet pantry goods. Guests can experience the magic of truffle hunting during the winter season before enjoying seasonal dining that celebrates the unique flavour of fresh truffles and the finest local produce. From paddock to plate, Black Cat Truffles offers an authentic truffle experience unlike any other.
There is no other farm like us.
Absolutely no chemicals used on our farm.
Regenerative Farming for over 14 years.
All our produce is born & raised on our farm in a closed herd.
Rare-breed British White Beef & Berkshire Pork, No Nitrate Bacon, Ham, Sausages, single origin salami, Biltong.
No middle re-sellers you buy direct from us, at farmers markets & it’s your farmers Jono, Jenna or Nats from Brooklands you’re talking to.
Passionate speakers, educators & soil lovers raising nutrient dense ethically raised produce.
Supplying Local & Melbournes top notch restaurants that have similar ethics.
Daylesford Cider is a family-owned orchard and cidery in the heart of Victoria’s spa country, dedicated to crafting premium ciders using heritage apple varieties grown on-site. Combining traditional methods with a commitment to quality and sustainability, the business has become a celebrated destination for locals and visitors alike. Beyond producing multi award-winning cider, Daylesford Cider contributes to the region through tourism, employment, events, and partnerships with local producers. Our cellar door and restaurant consistently offers a warm welcome to our guests 7 days a week and look forward to welcoming you soon.
Goldfields Farmhouse Cheese is made in the historic town of Ballarat. Our cheeses are made by hand in small batches with milk from two farms each with a different dairy breed: Friesian Holstein or Jersey cows. The milk is collected on the day the cheese is made and not stardardised so the cheese always taste of a particular time and place, changing with the seasons. Our range include surface ripened (Brie/camembert), semi-hard, hard and our speciality blue vein cheeses.
Green Eggs is a family-owned egg production business based near Great Western in regional Victoria. Established in 1999 and operated by the Warner family since 2020, Green Eggs is committed to producing high-quality, fresh eggs while maintaining strong standards in animal welfare, food safety, and environmental management. Eggs are collected, graded, packed, and distributed from our on-farm facility using modern equipment and strict quality assurance systems. Supplying retailers, wholesalers, and food service customers across Victoria, Green Eggs focuses on reliability, sustainability, and supporting regional communities through local employment, investment, and ongoing business growth.
Proudly established in Ballarat’s historic Goods Shed, Itinerant Spirits is a distillery built on the stories, landscapes and produce of Western Victoria. We craft our gin, vodka and whisky using locally sourced ingredients – from Grampians botanicals in our gin to Mallee wheat and Wimmera barley in our vodka and whisky. Our distillery, cocktail bar and dining venue welcome locals and visitors alike to experience the region in every glass. As we grow, we’re excited to take Ballarat and Western Victoria’s story to the world, showcasing the quality, character and provenance of our region through every bottle we export.
Karon Farm Coffee is Ballarat’s only full-time commercial coffee roastery. We roast specialty coffee on a Loring S15 Falcon in Wendouree, supply cafés across the region, and sell direct to people who want it fresh. Everything is roasted, cupped and packed here. You can taste it the week it leaves the roaster, or come in and watch it happen. Seven medals and over 400 five-star reviews later, we are still doing the same thing. Roasting good coffee in Ballarat, for Ballarat.
At Little Hampton Farm, every season tells its own story. From the first blossoms on our berry rows to the rich colours of our heirloom vegetables, everything we grow is shaped by the land, the weather, and a lot of hard work. We farm organically, the slow and steady way, guided by care for the soil and a love of real food. Being part of community means the world to us — the faces we see, the stories we share, the support that keeps us going. This recognition feels like it belongs to all of us who believe in good, honest, locally grown food shaped by the seasons.
We are a small family business in country Victoria, near Ballarat.
Our flock of 3000 birds provide free rage eggs for various cafes, restaurants, general stores, farm gates and supermarkets in the local area.
Our chickens are housed in automated caravans which keep them safe at night and let them out into our paddocks during the day to stretch their wings and have free reign to scratch around, dust bathe and enjoy life.
Built in the heart of Ballarat, Nomad Chilli Co makes small-batch fermented chilli sauces inspired by good food, local community, and shared tables. Created for everything from backyard barbecues to regional markets, the range is all about bold flavour, balanced heat, and bringing people together through food.
Peerick, based in the heart of the rugged Australian Pyrenees, is a fusion of ancient cultures, spiritual connections & commitments to sustainability, biodiversity and creating bloody good wine !
Our name, derived from the Aboriginal word ‘beeric’, which translates as ‘wild cat’, was bestowed on the Pyrenees region by its traditional custodians, the Dja Dja Wurrung. Their beliefs and dreamtime stories, together with the triskele from our Celtic culture, are proudly depicted on our wine labels. This encompasses both our cultures deep spiritual connection to the earth, water, sky and its creatures – in essence our terroir. All working in harmony to produce our distinctive range of quality, award-winning wines.
Rebellion Drinks Co. is a Ballarat-based producer of handcrafted, small-batch beverages made with a simple philosophy: Raw ingredients, honest production, and drinks made with care. We specialise in non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beverages that offer venues and customers a premium alternative to mass-produced products. Every bottle is measured, mixed, heated, bottled, labelled, and packed by hand, maintaining the character and quality that only small-scale production can provide. Proudly supporting local businesses, community groups, and events, we believe great products are built through strong relationships, genuine craftsmanship, and a commitment to locals supporting locals.
Family-run farm producing honey, farm products and memorable animal experiences in the Northern Grampians.
Summerfield Wines is a family-owned award-winning producer in Victoria’s Pyrenees region, crafting premium estate-grown wines alongside a diversified farm offering of pork and lamb. Our paddock-to-plate philosophy extends to our kitchen and restaurant, where we create house-made sourdough breads and wood-fired pizzas using our own produce. With on-site accommodation, guests can stay immersed in the landscape. Focused on quality, sustainability and regional expression, Summerfield Wines delivers an authentic grower-producer experience connecting visitors to the land, season, and the food and wine we proudly produce.
Sweet Sage Farm is a small artisan producer creating award-winning chutneys, relishes, pickles, sauces, and jams, using quality ingredients and traditional small-batch methods. Inspired by country living and homemade goodness, we craft products that bring warmth, flavour, and authenticity to every table. Based in Buninyong Victoria, Sweet Sage Farm is passionate about creating delicious handcrafted foods that celebrate local produce and simple, wholesome ingredients.
At Taltarni, our legacy is born from the land, not ancestry. Nestled in the heart of Victoria’s Pyrenees, we’ve been crafting cool-climate wines since 1977, rooted in a deep respect for our surroundings. Our land, shaped over millennia and safeguarded for the last 50 years, is one of Australia’s best-kept wine secrets. We’re dedicated to preserving its heritage and potential, ensuring it thrives for generations to come.
Our philosophy is simple: work alongside the land, not against it, to craft wines that reflect its promise and unique character. Every bottle we produce tells the story of our place and invites you to experience the enduring beauty and resilience of the Pyrenees.
Farming at Wattle Flat on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
Our first generation family farm sits on the hills looking over Creswick forest. The goats of our small herd set out each morning after milking to roam the hillside to forage. Our milk is processed onsite into delicious cheese, yoghurt and Cajeta (Mexican Caramel). Our aim is to provide truly seasonal local dairy products that reflect the ‘terroir’ of Wattle Flat; the essence of the locality that influences our flavours and textures.
Products: Goats cheese, Goats yogurt, Cajeta (Mexican caramel) and a skin care range.
Where can people buy from? Wonderful restaurants, locally delivered by arrangement and our Farmers Markets.
Western Plains Pork is a locally owned Australian pork producer based near Mt Mercer, Victoria. Established in 1997, the business specialises in outdoor-bred and free-range pork production, supplying premium pork to customers across Australia. Guided by its values of Honesty, Responsibility, Respect and Resourcefulness, Western Plains Pork is committed to high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity, environmental stewardship and food quality. The company focuses on sustainable farming practices, continuous improvement and innovation while supporting regional communities and delivering an exceptional paddock-to-plate experience.
Parwan Prime beef and lamb is a brand that has evolved from the values and practices of the Failli Family business, which for 50 years, has been committed to the local livestock and meat industry.
estside Meats Australia raises cattle and sheep.
Wore be and am o cat beckers and
wholesales beef and lamb to retall butchers and smaller independent supermarkets Cattle and lambs for their premium Parwan Prime brand are processed at their Bacchus Marsh facility, 60km west of Melbourne, and exclusively grown-out and finished on their nearby 4000 acre property – Parwan Valley:
“We control the land, water, pasture, hay, silage, irrigation, supplements and fertilizers used to grow the stock.
We control the on-farm handling, transportation and processing.
For 30 years, Wombat Forest Winery has proudly grown from a vision into a thriving family-owned and operated business. Established from scratch and celebrating 30 years since planting in 2027, we have built our reputation on award-winning wines, exceptional customer service and an incredible team. Guided by our motto, “Deliberately Small, producing premium handcrafted wines,” we create small-batch wines with a focus on quality, sustainability and authenticity. Set in a stunning natural bush environment and horse friendly, we host family-friendly music events, celebrate our annual Locals Day to thank our supporters, and actively contribute to community events that strengthen and enrich our region.
