Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Jun. 16, 2012	Mar. 24, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 18, 2011	Mar. 26, 2011	Oct. 06, 2012	Oct. 08, 2011	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	$ 887,630	$ 1,079,981	$ 1,086,379	$ 962,046	$ 1,316,855	$ 1,172,068	$ 1,192,718	$ 1,327,455	$ 4,246,708	$ 4,778,424	$ 4,686,858
Cost of products sold									(3,878,942)	(4,375,760)	(4,331,336)
Gross margin	64,253	120,510	93,675	64,544	138,569	130,221	89,328	69,330	367,766	402,664	355,522
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses									(310,534)	(289,758)	(279,471)
Charges for restructuring and long-term receivables									(5,158)	(16,412)	(31,459)
ITOCHU transaction related costs									(48,395)
Gain on arbitration settlement, net											32,521
Gain on asset sales									12,913	4,541	3,017
Operating income									16,592	101,035	80,130
Other income (expense), net									(3,130)	(380)	(276)
Interest income									4,654	4,093	5,871
Interest expense									(12,219)	(9,628)	(8,256)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings									5,897	95,120	77,469
Income taxes									(10,755)	2,070	(6,000)
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments									6,063	4,588	6,571
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(87,584)	53,089	28,455	5,497	52,580	56,029	7,245	(12,328)	1,205	101,778	78,040
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(130,033)	12,450	(11,311)	(1,778)	30,114	(53,984)	(21,109)	(34,676)	(150,003)	(60,324)	(111,163)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	7,231				339				7,231	339	2,957
Net income (loss)	(210,386)	65,539	17,144	3,719	83,033	2,045	(13,864)	(47,004)	(141,567)	41,793	(30,166)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	747	(1,410)	(777)	472	(1,267)	(1,005)	(1,456)	(1,634)	(2,896)	(3,434)	(3,958)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	(209,639)	64,129	16,367	4,191	81,766	1,040	(15,320)	(48,638)	(144,463)	38,359	(34,124)
Dole Food Company, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net									35,515	90,711	88,283
Cost of products sold									(31,059)	(74,522)	(74,744)
Gross margin									4,456	16,189	13,539
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses									(55,761)	(60,056)	(50,459)
ITOCHU transaction related costs									(48,395)
Gain on asset sales									962	4,541	676
Operating income									(98,738)	(39,326)	(36,244)
Equity in subsidiary income									(1,983)	135,584	57,166
Other income (expense), net									8		(466)
Interest income									653	804	1,236
Interest expense									(4,798)	(5,450)	(2,074)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings									(104,858)	91,612	19,618
Income taxes									49,855	56,441	46,311
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments									745	(154)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes									(54,258)	147,899	65,929
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									(97,436)	(109,540)	(100,053)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes									7,231
Net income (loss)									(144,463)	38,359	(34,124)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.									(144,463)	38,359	(34,124)
Guarantor
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net									2,203,666	2,199,128	2,158,302
Cost of products sold									(2,002,674)	(2,030,607)	(1,986,704)
Gross margin									200,992	168,521	171,598
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses									(133,322)	(125,650)	(122,567)
Gain on arbitration settlement, net											5,250
Operating income									67,670	42,871	54,281
Equity in subsidiary income									(97,936)	53,928	(48,220)
Other income (expense), net									33	(14)	(33)
Interest income									473	518	250
Interest expense									459	(81)	23
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings									(29,301)	97,222	6,301
Income taxes									(39,938)	(46,595)	(42,025)
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments									125	96	79
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes									(69,114)	50,723	(35,645)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									65,410	84,518	91,163
Net income (loss)									(3,704)	135,241	55,518
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.									(3,704)	135,241	55,518
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net									3,431,578	3,373,957	3,325,597
Cost of products sold									(3,257,074)	(3,148,573)	(3,148,450)
Gross margin									174,504	225,384	177,147
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses									(133,637)	(111,482)	(113,207)
Charges for restructuring and long-term receivables									(5,158)	(16,412)	(31,459)
Gain on arbitration settlement, net											27,271
Gain on asset sales									11,951		2,341
Operating income									47,660	97,490	62,093
Other income (expense), net									(3,171)	(366)	223
Interest income									3,528	2,771	4,385
Interest expense									(7,880)	(4,097)	(6,205)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings									40,137	95,798	60,496
Income taxes									(20,672)	(7,776)	(10,286)
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments									5,193	4,646	6,492
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes									24,658	92,668	56,702
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									(117,977)	(35,302)	(102,273)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes										339	2,957
Net income (loss)									(93,319)	57,705	(42,614)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(2,896)	(3,434)	(3,958)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.									(96,215)	54,271	(46,572)
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net									(1,424,051)	(885,372)	(885,324)
Cost of products sold									1,411,865	877,942	878,562
Gross margin									(12,186)	(7,430)	(6,762)
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses									12,186	7,430	6,762
Equity in subsidiary income									99,919	(189,512)	(8,946)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings									99,919	(189,512)	(8,946)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes									99,919	(189,512)	(8,946)
Net income (loss)									99,919	(189,512)	(8,946)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.									$ 99,919	$ (189,512)	$ (8,946)