Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 18, 2011	Jun. 19, 2010	Jun. 18, 2011	Jun. 19, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues, net	$ 1,915,725	$ 1,741,522	$ 3,601,829	$ 3,347,396
Cost of products sold	(1,657,519)	(1,540,722)	(3,136,862)	(2,974,389)
Gross margin	258,206	200,800	464,967	373,007
Selling, marketing and general and administrative expenses	(130,233)	(120,490)	(254,963)	(235,080)
Charges for restructuring and long-term receivables (Notes 5 and 7)	(5,947)	(762)	(8,702)	(1,370)
Gain on asset sales (Note 13)	11	950	11	2,921
Operating income	122,037	80,498	201,313	139,478
Other income (expense), net (Note 3)	4,337	(5,496)	(35,014)	(889)
Interest income	1,166	1,516	2,484	3,118
Interest expense	(34,837)	(37,138)	(70,307)	(78,188)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings	92,703	39,380	98,476	63,519
Income taxes	(13,518)	(9,067)	(18,658)	(12,242)
Earnings from equity method investments	3,480	2,832	4,690	4,283
Income from continuing operations	82,665	33,145	84,508	55,560
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	29	327	231	674
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	339		339
Net income	83,033	33,472	85,078	56,234
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,267)	(1,151)	(2,272)	(1,760)
Net income attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	$ 81,766	$ 32,321	$ 82,806	$ 54,474
Earnings per share - Basic (Note 16):
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.94	$ 0.38	$ 0.96	$ 0.64
Net income attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	$ 0.93	$ 0.37	$ 0.95	$ 0.62
Earnings per share - Diluted (Note 16):
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.94	$ 0.38	$ 0.96	$ 0.64
Net income attributable to shareholders of Dole Food Company, Inc.	$ 0.93	$ 0.37	$ 0.94	$ 0.62