Segment Information (Details) (USD $)									6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Jun. 28, 2014 Butterball, LLC Long-term note receivable	Dec. 31, 2012 Butterball, LLC Long-term note receivable	Mar. 30, 2013 Pork	Jun. 28, 2014 Commodity Trading and Milling Bakery business Democratic Republic of Congo	Dec. 31, 2012 Commodity Trading and Milling Bakery business Democratic Republic of Congo	Jun. 28, 2014 Power item	Jun. 28, 2014 Turkey Butterball, LLC	Jun. 29, 2013 Turkey Butterball, LLC	Mar. 30, 2013 Turkey Butterball, LLC	Jun. 28, 2014 Turkey Butterball, LLC	Jun. 29, 2013 Turkey Butterball, LLC	Dec. 31, 2013 Turkey Butterball, LLC
Segment Information
One-time Federal blender's credits recognized as revenue			$ 11,260,000			$ 11,260,000
Percentage of ownership								50.00%
Note Receivable from Affiliates							34,144,000
Capacity of power facility leased (in megawatts)									72
Portion of sales price remaining in escrow									1,500,000
Estimated future gain on sale of assets									4,500,000
Net sales										375,668,000	353,944,000		731,431,000	724,514,000
Operating income (loss)										28,682,000	(2,417,000)		49,430,000	(4,520,000)
Proportionate share of impairment charges of fixed assets recognized in loss from affiliate												(2,704,000)
Total assets										1,035,666,000			1,035,666,000		907,004,000
Notes receivable from affiliates	$ 189,856,000	$ 180,386,000		$ 133,294,000	$ 81,231,000