Crete's climate is mild and healthy, without dramatic changes, and is classified as a temperate, marine climate. Winter is generally mild with snowfall only in the high mountains, rain on the plains and a great deal of sunshine. The summer is hot and dry, warmer in eastern Crete and particularly hot on the shores of the Libyan Sea.
This mild, warm climate favours the cultivation of trees, vegetables and plants throughout the year which in other areas of Greece are cultivated only in summer.

Despite its mountainous soil, Crete is generally fertile, with extensive cultivation and production of a large variety of agricultural products. Walnuts and the tasty Cretan chestnuts are produced in the mountains. Olive groves and vineyards predominate in the middle zone. Apart from the grapes from which the excellent Cretan vines are produced, several table varieties are thrown and exported to Europe. There is also considerable production of the choice Cretan raisins (sultana). Citrus fruits, principally the orange and the tangerine, are cultivated on the plains, as are various vegetables; the olive is found throughout the island.

Other Cretan agricultural products are carob beans, fava, mountain tea, broad beans, oregano and flax.

On the plains and in the warmer parts there are also many greenhouses which produce tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and bananas all year round. Bananas and avocados are also grown outdoors in some places.

Bee keeping and livestock raising are particularly well-developed on the island. Crete is famous for its delicious cheeses: graviera, myzithra and anthotyro.

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