Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$ 240,528	$ 258,638
Fresh pork and materials	34,892	31,495
Inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market, Gross	275,420	290,133
LIFO adjustment	(78,897)	(90,730)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	196,523	199,403
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains, oilseeds and other commodities	349,034	317,573
Sugar produced and in process	57,887	65,986
Other	76,016	73,606
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	482,937	457,165
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	102,388	100,296
Total inventories	$ 781,848	$ 756,864