The Department of Agriculture and Food is working closely with local growers and other stakeholders on a project to support the continued development of this $13 million industry.

Department horticulturalist Alec McCarthy said a key element of the project is to identify technology that would benefit the industry.

"The avocado industry has grown rapidly over the last decade to produce more than one million trays during the 2008-09 season," Mr McCarthy said.

"To help the industry to continue to grow it needs to adopt new practices to increase yield efficiency by improving fruit set and reducing the incidence of alternate bearing cycles.

"The department will assist the stakeholders to identify this technology and growers to adopt it."

The project is jointly funded by the Avocado Growers Association of WA, using industry funds administered through the Agricultural Produce Commission, Horticulture Australia (with matching Federal government funds) and the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The project will build on initiatives in recent years to establish a sound foundation from which the industry can expand.

"Growers have worked together with the department and national research providers to develop a Strategic Development Plan to help the industry focus on the future and improve production efficiency and market penetration," Mr McCarthy said.

"This has helped the local industry to remain profitable as market competition increases in our domestic markets from both other Australian producers and New Zealand producers.

"The industry has made great efforts to maintain high fruit quality, improve yield efficiencies and develop and strengthen markets."

Avocado Growers Association of WA president Wayne Franceschi said a number of meetings, workshops and field days would be held in coming months to progress the blueprint for the future.

"It is important that the industry work together to forge a profitable future and be involved in this process," he said.

"The association has facilitated this by updating its existing website (www.avocadoswa.com) to provide growers with all the latest information and reports to assist the industry.

"We now have more than 100 avocado growers in the south west corner of the state who are keen and committed to seeing the industry develop and profit."