Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 23, 2013	Mar. 24, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	$ 1,053,805	$ 1,086,379
Cost of products sold	(945,106)	(995,433)
Gross margin	108,699	90,946
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(69,400)	(65,197)
Charges for restructuring		(1,331)
ITOCHU transaction related costs	(7,054)	(197)
European Union antitrust legal provision	(33,700)
Gain on asset sales	1,321	4,203
Operating income (loss)	(134)	28,424
Other income (expense), net	7,251	2,293
Interest income	1,043	713
Interest expense	(10,248)	(2,073)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(2,088)	29,357
Income taxes	3,901	(5,213)
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	2,051	1,426
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	3,864	25,570
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(69,461)	(8,426)
Net income	(65,597)	17,144
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,131)	(777)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	(66,728)	16,367
Dole Food Company, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	9,414	21,615
Cost of products sold	(7,782)	(16,841)
Gross margin	1,632	4,774
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(10,691)	(14,304)
ITOCHU transaction related costs	(7,054)	(197)
Gain on asset sales		962
Operating income (loss)	(16,113)	(8,765)
Equity in subsidiary income	(35,390)	39,640
Other income (expense), net	(4)
Interest income	20	19
Interest expense	(771)	(938)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(52,258)	29,956
Income taxes	8,337	7,753
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	(8)	10
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(43,929)	37,719
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(22,799)	(21,352)
Net income	(66,728)	16,367
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	(66,728)	16,367
Guarantor
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	585,177	503,008
Cost of products sold	(521,623)	(460,950)
Gross margin	63,554	42,058
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(32,372)	(28,084)
Operating income (loss)	31,182	13,974
Equity in subsidiary income	(60,297)	18,092
Other income (expense), net	(15)	(7)
Interest income	75	75
Interest expense	(53)	(12)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(29,108)	32,122
Income taxes	1,334	(1,873)
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	298	186
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(27,476)	30,435
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(68,318)	8,437
Net income	(35,794)	38,872
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	(35,794)	38,872
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	802,573	757,285
Cost of products sold	(756,297)	(711,625)
Gross margin	46,276	45,660
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(29,100)	(24,355)
Charges for restructuring		(1,331)
European Union antitrust legal provision	(33,700)
Gain on asset sales	1,321	3,241
Operating income (loss)	(15,203)	23,215
Other income (expense), net	7,270	2,300
Interest income	948	619
Interest expense	(9,424)	(1,123)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	(16,409)	25,011
Income taxes	(5,770)	(11,093)
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	1,761	1,230
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(20,418)	15,148
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(38,344)	4,489
Net income	(58,762)	19,637
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,131)	(777)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	(59,893)	18,860
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	(343,359)	(195,529)
Cost of products sold	340,596	193,983
Gross margin	(2,763)	(1,546)
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	2,763	1,546
Equity in subsidiary income	95,687	(57,732)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	95,687	(57,732)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	95,687	(57,732)
Net income	95,687	(57,732)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	$ 95,687	$ (57,732)