Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 06, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 08, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 82,044	$ 122,348	$ 190,586	$ 170,147
Restricted cash		6,230
Receivables, net of allowances	706,322	685,094
Inventories	844,795	829,517
Prepaid expenses and other assets	72,072	65,331
Deferred income tax assets	28,687	26,184
Assets held-for-sale	21,488	75,641
Total current assets	1,755,408	1,810,345
Investments	106,150	99,469
Actively marketed land	74,814	74,814
Property, plant and equipment, net	897,810	910,729
Goodwill	413,966	418,113
Intangible assets, net	735,226	732,013
Other assets, net	251,865	225,839
Total assets	4,235,239	4,271,322
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	428,236	452,049
Liabilities related to assets held-for-sale		49,117
Accrued liabilities	524,166	541,730
Current portion of long-term debt, net	162,851	10,756
Notes payable	55,161	27,969
Total current liabilities	1,170,414	1,081,621
Long-term debt, net	1,472,045	1,641,112
Deferred income tax liabilities	193,308	181,677
Other long-term liabilities	471,252	548,491
Equity attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	900,838	792,504
Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	27,382	25,917
Total equity	928,220	818,421	830,935	816,784
Total liabilities and equity	4,235,239	4,271,322
Dole Food Company, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	16,268	13,558	26,940	39,080
Receivables, net of allowances	94,760	106,855
Inventories	7,899	8,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	4,905	6,647
Assets held-for-sale	12,479	13,370
Total current assets	136,311	149,400
Investments	2,684,040	2,485,133
Actively marketed land	74,814	74,814
Property, plant and equipment, net	134,748	135,050
Intangible assets, net	689,615	689,615
Other assets, net	50,392	67,299
Total assets	3,769,920	3,601,311
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	5,132	10,428
Accrued liabilities	55,656	68,906
Current portion of long-term debt, net	153,832	(1,060)
Total current liabilities	214,620	78,274
Intercompany payables (receivables)	1,376,935	1,260,604
Long-term debt, net	867,407	1,014,113
Deferred income tax liabilities	156,883	154,011
Other long-term liabilities	253,237	301,805
Equity attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	900,838	792,504
Total equity	900,838	792,504
Total liabilities and equity	3,769,920	3,601,311
Guarantors [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	2,498	1,813	2,071	2,714
Receivables, net of allowances	133,706	122,450
Inventories	325,618	309,391
Prepaid expenses and other assets	14,938	8,934
Deferred income tax assets	22,335	21,442
Assets held-for-sale	3,813	3,813
Total current assets	502,908	467,843
Investments	1,942,062	1,834,271
Property, plant and equipment, net	265,923	268,548
Goodwill	131,818	131,818
Intangible assets, net	4,987	7,331
Other assets, net	17,967	12,982
Total assets	2,865,665	2,722,793
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	151,590	140,638
Accrued liabilities	166,201	166,166
Current portion of long-term debt, net	324	711
Total current liabilities	318,115	307,515
Intercompany payables (receivables)	(156,889)	(88,549)
Long-term debt, net	2,396	2,608
Other long-term liabilities	23,180	22,885
Equity attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	2,678,863	2,478,334
Total equity	2,678,863	2,478,334
Total liabilities and equity	2,865,665	2,722,793
Non Guarantors [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	63,278	106,977	161,575	128,353
Restricted cash		6,230
Receivables, net of allowances	477,856	455,789
Inventories	511,278	511,156
Prepaid expenses and other assets	52,229	49,750
Deferred income tax assets	10,867	9,257
Assets held-for-sale	5,196	58,458
Total current assets	1,120,704	1,197,617
Investments	106,849	100,629
Property, plant and equipment, net	497,139	507,131
Goodwill	282,148	286,295
Intangible assets, net	40,624	35,067
Other assets, net	191,529	149,658
Total assets	2,238,993	2,276,397
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	271,514	300,983
Liabilities related to assets held-for-sale		49,117
Accrued liabilities	306,824	306,658
Current portion of long-term debt, net	8,695	11,105
Notes payable	55,161	27,969
Total current liabilities	642,194	695,832
Intercompany payables (receivables)	(1,220,046)	(1,167,540)
Long-term debt, net	602,242	624,391
Deferred income tax liabilities	44,448	31,766
Other long-term liabilities	194,835	223,801
Equity attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	1,947,938	1,842,230
Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	27,382	25,917
Total equity	1,975,320	1,868,147
Total liabilities and equity	2,238,993	2,276,397
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Deferred income tax assets	(4,515)	(4,515)
Total current assets	(4,515)	(4,515)
Investments	(4,626,801)	(4,320,564)
Other assets, net	(8,023)	(4,100)
Total assets	(4,639,339)	(4,329,179)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	(4,515)
Total current liabilities	(4,515)
Intercompany payables (receivables)		(4,515)
Deferred income tax liabilities	(8,023)	(4,100)
Equity attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	(4,626,801)	(4,320,564)
Total equity	(4,626,801)	(4,320,564)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (4,639,339)	$ (4,329,179)