Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	$ 1,648,105	$ 1,479,416	$ 4,914,440	$ 4,461,122
Operating Income (Loss):	33,770	85,057	150,777	239,136
Income (loss) from affiliates	(4,989)	2,318	(12,386)	21,703
Total Assets:	3,329,885		3,329,885		3,347,781
Investment in and Advances to Affiliates:	396,559		396,559		410,542
Pork
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	435,981	413,077	1,262,083	1,214,405
Operating Income (Loss):	34,099	29,863	89,997	103,582
Total Assets:	776,480		776,480		740,245
Commodity Trading and Milling
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	857,994	675,649	2,553,510	2,125,263
Operating Income (Loss):	8,808	16,662	29,746	53,822
Income (loss) from affiliates	(999)	2,143	(1,187)	7,155
Total Assets:	1,024,475		1,024,475		992,507
Investment in and Advances to Affiliates:	194,645		194,645		186,873
Marine
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	219,466	242,330	676,347	712,141
Operating Income (Loss):	(15,033)	13,006	(22,413)	14,578
Total Assets:	273,529		273,529		281,215
Sugar
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	58,500	69,025	192,554	220,277
Operating Income (Loss):	193	13,615	28,312	51,326
Income (loss) from affiliates	54	(122)	171	(184)
Total Assets:	237,344		237,344		254,445
Investment in and Advances to Affiliates:	2,526		2,526		2,775
Power
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	73,607	75,778	221,386	178,562
Operating Income (Loss):	13,429	18,649	41,405	35,123
Total Assets:	282,076		282,076		235,377
Turkey
Segment Information
Income (loss) from affiliates	(4,044)	297	(11,370)	14,732
Total Assets:	330,855		330,855		423,825
Investment in and Advances to Affiliates:	199,388		199,388		220,894
All Other
Segment Information
Sales to External Customers:	2,557	3,557	8,560	10,474
Operating Income (Loss):	216	93	354	262
Total Assets:	4,713		4,713		5,288
Corporate Items
Segment Information
Operating Income (Loss):	(7,942)	(6,831)	(16,624)	(19,557)
Total Assets:	400,413		400,413		414,879
Segment Totals
Segment Information
Operating Income (Loss):	41,712	91,888	167,401	258,693
Total Assets:	2,929,472		2,929,472		2,932,902
Allocation to segments
Segment Information
Allocation to individual segments of general corporate management oversight costs			$ 0