Agriculture and livestock breeding are the basic productive activities of Kytherians during the last centuries, even if the Kytherian land is infertile and the agricultural production was never large. Most areas were cultivated, since in the past the population peaked at 13.000 - 15.000 inhabitants. Today very few areas are cultivated; the agricultural activity is small but steady and high in quality. Biological Agriculture is progressing continuously.
The cultivated plants are grains like barley, wheat and corn, as well as vegetables such as broad beans, chickpeas, lentils, legumes and split peas. Viniculture is one of the farmers’ basic occupations even today. The trees cultivated are the olive tree, locust tree, fig tree, plum tree, almond tree, pear tree. Wild pear trees are of the most well-known trees in the area. Long ago, very small cultivations with flax, cotton and tobacco were sustained.
Kythera’s livestock breeding includes sheep, goats and pigs, while cattle is kept on a small scale. There are also several poultry farms operating on the island. Sheep and goat's milk are processed into very high quality cheeses which are sold on the market.
The wine produced in Kythera is mainly destined for household supplies, since the production is not large. Two varieties are mainly cultivated: Arikaras, a the red grape and Petrolanos, a white grape that lends the wine a nice odor. Tokoumaki and Roditis are two other, less common varieties. From the pressed grapes the local tsipoura is produced, which is of very good quality and the traditional drink of Kythera.
Kytherian honey is by far its most famous product, justified by its superior quality. The thyme which flourishes on the island is the basic food-source for bees and gives honey a special flavor. Apiculture was most probably introduced to Kythera by the Minoans. An other variety of honey produced in Kythera is the briar honey, produced from pollen of the briar plant.
Many agricultural products are produced for the local market. Exports such as olive oil, honey etc. have increased during the last years. Another well-known local product are the Kytherian oil rusks. Dairy products produced are fresh milk, curdled milk, hard cheese, cream cheese, white cheese, butter. A small quantity of wool is gathered and processed by sheep farmers.
The island also offers beef, pork, lamb, goat, wild goat, chicken, duck, turkey, guinea fowl. Due to limited availability,meat is often imported. Local pastries such as frumenty, husty puddings etc. are also produced on Kythera. Salt is gathered from various salt marshes across the island such as in Avlemonas. The local people also take small fish preserve them in brine. These salted fish are usually offered to the island’s restaurants. Some collect local herbs and sell them on the market. The most common among these are sage, oregano and thyme. The drinks produced here are wine, tsipoura and various liqueurs. Fatourada is a well-known liqueur unique to Kythera.
Almonds, nuts, bitter oranges, oranges, tangerines, apples, nectarines, Aphrodite’s breasts, pears (black pears, short pears, “kontopodarouses”, roman pears, butter pears), figs, prickly pears.
Cauliflower, crops, cabbages, notch weeds, zucchinis, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, gumbos, cucumbers, melons, fresh beans, broad beans, split peas, chickpeas, lentils, onions, green peppers.
