The family-run business in Spring Gully was awarded state awards for its ham on the bone and its bacon at the Australian Meat Industry Council Sausage and Small Goods competition at the weekend.

Jackson Dargaville, whose father owns the business, said the awards were a great result at this time of year.

"Ham on the bone is a great product to win at this time of year," he said. "When Christmas comes up (ham) is the showpiece. It's nice to put your best product out and back it up with a couple of awards.

"We market our meat as a quality product and people go the extra mile or expense to get quality cuts and be happy all the time."

Mr Dargaville said the two categories were tough to win with a lot of butchers producing good meat.

The Flora Hill store won the regional award before competing for the state title. National awards will be handed out in February.

"(Judges) go for the look of a product, the taste and the texture," he said. "There's more than 10 retail butchers in Bendigo and our region goes from Ballarat to Echuca, so we were up to 30 or 40 butcher shops.

"It's the biggest region in state and to have that calibre of other butchers around (makes competition) pretty tough.

"We always have a bit of confidence because we know our product is really consistent and we have pride with the time take to prepare it. But it was nice to finish up the top."

Business is picking up for the butchers with December arrive next week.

"We are taking a lot of early orders for ham," Mr Dargaville said. "The pork industry a little fragile in terms of the way exports and imports are going.

"A lot of people are getting in early to ensure they get premium product."

Mr Dargaville said he hoped more people would continue to turn to their local butcher in the holiday period.

"It doesn't mattter if you're buying from us but if you are buying ham, buy from a local butcher and make sure it's Australian pork so you're supporting the industry as whole," he said.

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