Non-traditional uses for avocados must be explored and promoted if the industry is to continue enjoying high prices and solid demand growth, leaders in the sector say.

As the North Queensland picking season kicks off on the Atherton Tablelands, south of Cairns, data shows the huge plantings of trees nationwide will soon mean more than 100,000 tonnes produced annually in Australia.

Avocados Australia CEO John Tyas said domestic farms were on track to produce 115,000 tonnes by 2025, nearly trebling 2007/08's production of 40,000 tonnes.

"Last financial year figures showed domestic consumption was about 3.5 kilograms per person. That's been increasing virtually year-on-year."

Grower Matt Fealy from Blue Sky Produce manages 5,000 trees near Atherton and said prices would never reach highs of previous years, when a tray made up to $70.

"There's a lot of avocados going in, not only in my region but all over Australia, because of those historically high prices," he said.

"Those kinds of high prices just can't be maintained, realistically [but] that's not to say they're getting down to below cost of production, like our mangoes were this year.

"I think there's still plenty of life in the avocado industry for a number of years to come."

New markets, new uses

Mr Tyas emphasised new export markets might need to be developed as production ramped up, to iron out seasonal oversupplies.

Reducing the numbers of fruit damaged during the 'ripeness test' is a key concern for Avocados Australia.

Avocados Australia is also working on a campaign to improve the consumer experience of fruit and reduce the likelihood of shoppers buying a dud avo.

"I think avocados as a product tick a lot of boxes. It's a very unique product, there's nothing quite like it," Mr Tyas said.

"The key thing we've got to work on is to continue to improve quality.

"It's very challenging to get that product to the retail shelf in that pristine condition every time."

Cooking with avos

While the humble avocado on toast is tipped to remain a staple of Australian consumption well into the future, a push to include the fruit in a wider range of dishes is gaining traction.

Matt Fealy said expanding culinary use was a critical part of soaking up booming production.

"We're going to have to teach the Australian consumer how to enjoy their avocado in new ways, in a sweet format," he said.

Cook and blogger Kim McCosker from the Sunshine Coast said the avocado was much more than just a breakfast item, with a myriad of kitchen uses.

Sweet options could be a way to ensure sustainable demand for avocados for decades to come.

"There are lots and lots of ways you can use your avocado beyond smashed avocado on toast and Mexican dishes," she said.

Avocado and banana popsicles, brownies, and a chocolate mousse were other recipes Ms McCosker has experimented with.

"Generally, a mousse is eggs and there's a lot of people with egg allergies now, so we developed this recipe that's lactose, gluten, and egg-free," she said.

Avocado saplings will eventually contribute fruit suitable for sweet foods like smoothies and ice-cream.

Increasing the year-round availability of avocado is highlighted by figures showing 26 per cent higher volumes of fruit entered the market in December 2018 compared to the same time in 2017.

Ms McCosker said bulk-buying and freezing the fruit was a good way to plan ahead for when fruit was cheapest.

"I use frozen avocado for smoothies and ice creams [but] it depends on what you're using it for," she said.

"We all know they're good fats, there's great fibre in them.

"They make a great nutritious breakfast on the go [and] for that purpose, frozen avo is fine."