Voyager makes malted barley and other grains used in beer, whiskey and bread.

They have won Delicious magazine's In The Bottle prize in their 2020 Produce Awards which focuses on ingredients to great food.

"It's recognition that beer and spirits start in the ground," Voyager co-founder Stuart Whytcross said.

"We started by trying to give some identity to a commodity product grown in our region."

One of their original attempts to create an identity for malted barley saw Mr Whytcross and fellow co-founder Brad Woolner create Barellan Golden Grain Ale.

They started Voyager Craft Malt because there were no small scale malters.

Their malt is now being used by over 160 brewers and 40 distillers and Mr Whytcross said it was helping those businesses tell a story about their drinks.

"The Delicious awards are really unique, they don't go to the best product, but look behind the product," he said.

"We get a thrill out of seeing brewers and distillers getting an award, but that's their award."

Mr Whytcross said there had been changes in consumer's preferences for their food and drink as people sought out more sustainable options, as well as independent producers.

"A lot of our clients are small, local independents and they expect their customers to buy from them because they're the local brewery or bakery," he said.

Mr Whytcross said the MIA 's climate of hot, dry summers was ideal to grow malting barley.

The success of their malt was based on the efforts of the region's growers, with Voyager helping guide growers on the types of grains that suited the end product.

"As great as this award is, we couldn't do it without our growers," Mr Whytcross said.

"We're only as good as the grains the grower can grow for us."

The Delicious awards are assessed by a panel of chefs and experts, including Maggie Beer and Matt Moran.

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