Avocado growers are confident they will be able to cope in the event of a summer drought.
Photo: thebigland/123RF
Forecasters from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said the soil in the top three-quarters of the country had become dry in the past week, with no immediate reprieve in sight.
Avocado industry group Avoco spokesperson Steve Trickett said there was a reasonable crop load at the moment and growers were fairly relaxed.
"Most of those orchards and those growers ... and most of the industry, would have irrigation. They know that it's necessary to keep that water on ahead of when things dry up."
Trickett said one challenge in 2020 could be competition from Chile, which was seeking access to the Australian market.
The biggest customer for New Zealand's export avocados is Australia.