Note 14 - Business Segment Reporting (Details) - Operations by Business Segment (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	May 25, 2014	Feb. 23, 2014	Nov. 24, 2013	Aug. 25, 2013	May 26, 2013	Feb. 24, 2013	Nov. 25, 2012	Aug. 26, 2012	May 27, 2012	Feb. 26, 2012	Nov. 27, 2011	Aug. 28, 2011	May 25, 2014	May 26, 2013	May 28, 2013	May 27, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													$ 476,813	$ 441,708		$ 317,552
International sales													137,246	132,766		114,486
Gross profit	16,143	20,155	13,734	12,532	13,030	17,508	18,459	13,763	14,706	13,172	13,010	11,250	62,564	62,760		52,138
Net income (loss)													19,145	22,587		12,696
Identifiable assets	313,623				290,942				277,692				313,623	290,942		277,692
Depreciation and amortization													7,114	7,295	7,295	5,621
Capital expenditures													14,886	8,877	8,877	5,371
Dividend Income													1,125	1,125	1,125	1,125
Interest income													260	179	179	180
Interest expense													1,650	2,008	2,008	929
Income tax expense													10,583	9,452	9,452	7,185
Food Products Technology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													360,728	320,447		207,582
International sales													47,224	27,532		20,528
Gross profit													36,318	37,077		25,237
Net income (loss)													19,041	20,526		17,527
Identifiable assets	196,257				180,104				169,541				196,257	180,104		169,541
Depreciation and amortization													4,751		4,761	3,191
Capital expenditures													10,950		5,598	2,498
Dividend Income													1,125		1,125	1,125
Interest income													12		42	30
Interest expense													1,402		1,707	178
Income tax expense													33		3,399
Food Export [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													69,827	78,568		71,485
International sales													69,710	78,442		71,054
Gross profit													5,340	5,274		4,900
Net income (loss)													1,973	1,660		2,269
Identifiable assets	25,391				21,737				18,425				25,391	21,737		18,425
Depreciation and amortization													6		4	7
Income tax expense													3		339
HA-based Biomaterials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													45,704	41,281		34,283
International sales													20,312	26,792		22,904
Gross profit													20,456	19,102		17,994
Net income (loss)													9,695	6,835		7,672
Identifiable assets	85,858				80,940				81,927				85,858	80,940		81,927
Depreciation and amortization													2,221		2,379	2,242
Capital expenditures													3,877		3,190	2,798
Interest income													242		137	129
Interest expense													248		301	751
Income tax expense													17		1,400
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													554	1,412		4,202
Gross profit													450	1,307		4,007
Net income (loss)													(11,564)	(6,434)		(14,772)
Identifiable assets	6,117				8,161				7,799				6,117	8,161		7,799
Depreciation and amortization													136		151	181
Capital expenditures													59		89	75
Interest income													6			21
Income tax expense													$ 10,530		$ 4,314	$ 7,185