Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 06, 2012	Oct. 08, 2011	Oct. 06, 2012	Oct. 08, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	$ 1,957,111	$ 2,086,032	$ 5,302,176	$ 5,687,861
Cost of products sold	(1,781,259)	(1,910,314)	(4,722,340)	(5,047,176)
Gross margin	175,852	175,718	579,836	640,685
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(162,645)	(160,902)	(425,039)	(415,865)
Charges for restructuring and long-term receivables	(793)	(7,877)	(4,062)	(16,579)
Gain on asset sales	5,759	3,326	11,916	3,337
Operating income (loss)	18,173	10,265	162,651	211,578
Other income (expense), net	(4,840)	(18,956)	(3,324)	(53,970)
Interest income	1,531	1,318	4,145	3,802
Interest expense	(39,953)	(41,402)	(101,546)	(111,709)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(25,089)	(48,775)	61,926	49,701
Income taxes	8,055	(123)	230	(18,781)
Earnings from equity method investments	3,404	1,937	6,929	6,627
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(13,630)	(46,961)	69,085	37,547
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(234)	(43)	(266)	188
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes				339
Net (loss) income	(13,864)	(47,004)	68,819	38,074
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,456)	(1,634)	(3,643)	(3,906)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc	(15,320)	(48,638)	65,176	34,168
Dole Food Company, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	28,913	26,993	72,759	73,462
Cost of products sold	(24,900)	(23,403)	(59,741)	(60,027)
Gross margin	4,013	3,590	13,018	13,435
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(23,281)	(19,408)	(53,758)	(46,079)
Gain on asset sales		3,326	962	3,337
Operating income (loss)	(19,268)	(12,492)	(39,778)	(29,307)
Equity in subsidiary income	27,232	4,494	150,268	138,272
Other income (expense), net		(18,052)		(18,058)
Interest income	20	323	653	803
Interest expense	(29,210)	(28,993)	(73,699)	(74,491)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(21,226)	(54,720)	37,444	17,219
Income taxes	5,600	6,082	27,426	16,949
Earnings from equity method investments	306		306
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(15,320)	(48,638)	65,176	34,168
Net (loss) income	(15,320)	(48,638)	65,176	34,168
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc	(15,320)	(48,638)	65,176	34,168
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	926,979	921,485	2,427,148	2,472,424
Cost of products sold	(817,220)	(829,110)	(2,146,940)	(2,204,867)
Gross margin	109,759	92,375	280,208	267,557
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(70,330)	(70,406)	(191,400)	(188,111)
Operating income (loss)	39,429	21,969	88,808	79,446
Equity in subsidiary income	(11,412)	(14,493)	66,996	69,820
Interest income	67	54	430	457
Interest expense	524	(85)	475	(126)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	28,608	7,445	156,709	149,597
Income taxes	(1,702)	(2,878)	(7,833)	(11,989)
Earnings from equity method investments	(105)	(90)	155	202
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	26,801	4,477	149,031	137,810
Net (loss) income	26,801	4,477	149,031	137,810
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc	26,801	4,477	149,031	137,810
Non Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	1,428,698	1,561,454	3,894,028	4,340,002
Cost of products sold	(1,362,383)	(1,476,402)	(3,596,825)	(3,968,686)
Gross margin	66,315	85,052	297,203	371,316
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(73,269)	(76,387)	(190,474)	(193,298)
Charges for restructuring and long-term receivables	(793)	(7,877)	(4,062)	(16,579)
Gain on asset sales	5,759		10,954
Operating income (loss)	(1,988)	788	113,621	161,439
Other income (expense), net	(4,840)	(904)	(3,324)	(35,912)
Interest income	1,444	941	3,062	2,542
Interest expense	(11,267)	(12,324)	(28,322)	(37,092)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(16,651)	(11,499)	85,037	90,977
Income taxes	4,157	(3,327)	(19,363)	(23,741)
Earnings from equity method investments	3,203	2,027	6,468	6,425
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(9,291)	(12,799)	72,142	73,661
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(234)	(43)	(266)	188
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes				339
Net (loss) income	(9,525)	(12,842)	71,876	74,188
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,456)	(1,634)	(3,643)	(3,906)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc	(10,981)	(14,476)	68,233	70,282
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	(427,479)	(423,900)	(1,091,759)	(1,198,027)
Cost of products sold	423,244	418,601	1,081,166	1,186,404
Gross margin	(4,235)	(5,299)	(10,593)	(11,623)
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	4,235	5,299	10,593	11,623
Equity in subsidiary income	(15,820)	9,999	(217,264)	(208,092)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(15,820)	9,999	(217,264)	(208,092)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(15,820)	9,999	(217,264)	(208,092)
Net (loss) income	(15,820)	9,999	(217,264)	(208,092)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc	$ (15,820)	$ 9,999	$ (217,264)	$ (208,092)