Cavendish Agreement Cavendish Agreement (Notes) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Cavendish Agreement Cavendish Agreement (Notes) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 03, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 Corporate costs Fyffes transaction General and administrative expense	Sep. 30, 2014 Corporate costs Fyffes transaction General and administrative expense	Sep. 30, 2014 Corporate costs Fyffes transaction General and administrative expense	Sep. 30, 2014 Corporate costs Cutrale Safra transaction General and administrative expense	Sep. 30, 2014 Corporate costs Cutrale Safra transaction General and administrative expense
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions by Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable [Table Text Block]			Note 3 - Strategic Combination with Fyffes and Cutrale-Safra Definitive Merger Agreement On March 10, 2014, we announced our intention to combine with Fyffes plc ("Fyffes") and entered into a transaction agreement for the proposed combination, the terms of which were amended on September 25, 2014. A special meeting of our shareholders was held on October 24, 2014 in which the shareholders did not approve the amended transaction agreement with Fyffes, therefore Fyffes delivered a notice of termination of the transaction agreement. In connection with the now terminated Fyffes strategic combination, we have incurred legal, advisory and other expenses totaling $4 million and $13 million during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. In addition, under the terms of the amended transaction agreement and expenses reimbursement agreement, we will pay Fyffes a termination fee of approximately $23 million in November 2014. On October 26, 2014, Chiquita entered into a Definitive Merger Agreement (the "Merger Agreement") with Cavendish Global Limited ("Cavendish"), a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. Cavendish is an affiliate of the Cutrale Group and the Safra Group. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, among other things: Cavendish commenced a tender offer on November 4, 2014 to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Chiquita, subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at a purchase price of $14.50 per share. Chiquita's board of directors has unanimously approved the transaction. Pending regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of 2014 or in early 2015. In connection with the Merger Agreement, we have incurred legal, advisory and other expenses totaling $4 million for both the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014. In connection with the Merger Agreement with Cavendish, we made customary representations and warranties and agreed to customary covenants limiting our ability to, among other things, issue shares of capital stock; pay dividends; repurchase, redeem or acquire capital stock; redeem, repurchase, prepay or incur indebtedness; enter into, terminate or amend existing material contracts; enter into employment or severance agreements with certain employees; acquire equity interests or assets of third parties; sell or otherwise dispose of assets; and conduct restructuring or reorganization activities.
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Business combination, acquisition related costs	$ 8,235,000	$ 0	$ 16,907,000	$ 0				$ 4,000,000	$ 13,000,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 4,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination							$ 23,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Business Acquisition, Share Price					$ 14.50