Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2016
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	13. Commitments and Contingencies Plum Dispute Plum, a Delaware public benefit corporation, and SunOpta Global Organic Ingredients, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“SGOI”), are parties to a manufacturing and packaging agreement dated September 21, 2011 (the “Plum Manufacturing Agreement”). Pursuant to the Plum Manufacturing Agreement, SGOI agreed to manufacture and package certain food items for Plum at SGOI’s Allentown, Pennsylvania facility in accordance with Plum’s specifications regarding, among other things, product ingredients and packaging, manufacturing processes, and quality control standards. On November 8, 2013, Plum initiated a voluntary recall of certain products manufactured by SGOI at its Allentown facility. On February 3, 2015, Plum filed a complaint against SGOI in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in Allentown, Pennsylvania. On April 13, 2015, Plum filed an amended complaint adding packaging manufacturer and supplier Cheer Pack North America (“Cheer Pack”) as a Defendant. SGOI asserted counterclaims against Plum, crossclaims against Cheer Pack and third-party claims against Gualapack S.p.A (“Gualapack”), Hosokawa Yoko, Co. (“Hosokawa”), Secure HY Packaging Co., Ltd. (“SHY”) and CDF Corporation (“CDF”). Cheer Pack asserted cross-claims against SGOI. Plum alleged it initiated the recall in response to consumer complaints of bloated packaging and premature spoilage of certain products, which could lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and discomfort if consumed. Plum alleged that the spoilage of its products resulted from a post-processing issue at SGOI’s Allentown facility. Plum sought unspecified damages equal to the direct costs of the recall and handling of undistributed product, incidental and consequential damages, lost profits and attorneys’ fees. On July 29, 2016, SGOI entered into a Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Plum, Campbell Soup Company (“Campbell”), Cheer Pack, Gualapack, Hosokawa, CDF and SHY. The Settlement Agreement resolves the disputed issues among the parties in connection with the litigation filed by Plum against SGOI, as described above. Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company will pay Campbell $5.0 million in cash and provide Campbell with rebates of up to $4.0 million over a four-year period in connection with Plum’s purchases of pouch products and Campbell’s purchases of aseptic broth products pursuant to manufacturing and supply agreements, as amended, between the parties and their affiliates. In order for Campbell to obtain the full $4.0 million in rebates, Plum and Campbell must order certain minimum quantities of pouch products and aseptic broth products within each of the designated twelve-month periods over the four-year rebate period. In connection with the Settlement Agreement, the Company recorded a charge of $9.0 million in the second quarter of 2016, as the Company believes there is reasonable assurance that the minimum order quantities will be achieved (see note 9). Employment Matter On April 19, 2013, a class-action complaint, in the case titled De Jesus, et al. v. Frozsun, Inc. d/b/a Frozsun Foods, was filed against Sunrise Growers, Inc. (then named Frozsun, Inc.) in California Superior Court, Santa Barbara County seeking damages, equitable relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees for alleged wage and hour violations. This case includes claims for failure to pay all hours worked, failure to pay overtime wages, meal and rest period violations, waiting-time penalties, improper wage statements and unfair business practices. The putative class includes approximately 4,000 to 4,500 non-exempt hourly employees from Sunrise’s production facilities in Santa Maria and Oxnard, California. The parties are currently engaged in pre-class certification discovery. The Company is unable to estimate any potential liabilities relating to this proceeding, and any such liabilities could be material. Other Claims In addition, various claims and potential claims arising in the normal course of business are pending against the Company. It is the opinion of management that these claims or potential claims are without merit and the amount of potential liability, if any, to the Company is not determinable. Management believes the final determination of these claims or potential claims will not materially affect the financial position or results of the Company.

Plum Dispute

Plum, a Delaware public benefit corporation, and SunOpta Global Organic Ingredients, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“SGOI”), are parties to a manufacturing and packaging agreement dated September 21, 2011 (the “Plum Manufacturing Agreement”). Pursuant to the Plum Manufacturing Agreement, SGOI agreed to manufacture and package certain food items for Plum at SGOI’s Allentown, Pennsylvania facility in accordance with Plum’s specifications regarding, among other things, product ingredients and packaging, manufacturing processes, and quality control standards. On November 8, 2013, Plum initiated a voluntary recall of certain products manufactured by SGOI at its Allentown facility. On February 3, 2015, Plum filed a complaint against SGOI in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in Allentown, Pennsylvania. On April 13, 2015, Plum filed an amended complaint adding packaging manufacturer and supplier Cheer Pack North America (“Cheer Pack”) as a Defendant. SGOI asserted counterclaims against Plum, crossclaims against Cheer Pack and third-party claims against Gualapack S.p.A (“Gualapack”), Hosokawa Yoko, Co. (“Hosokawa”), Secure HY Packaging Co., Ltd. (“SHY”) and CDF Corporation (“CDF”). Cheer Pack asserted cross-claims against SGOI. Plum alleged it initiated the recall in response to consumer complaints of bloated packaging and premature spoilage of certain products, which could lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and discomfort if consumed. Plum alleged that the spoilage of its products resulted from a post-processing issue at SGOI’s Allentown facility. Plum sought unspecified damages equal to the direct costs of the recall and handling of undistributed product, incidental and consequential damages, lost profits and attorneys’ fees.

On July 29, 2016, SGOI entered into a Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Plum, Campbell Soup Company (“Campbell”), Cheer Pack, Gualapack, Hosokawa, CDF and SHY. The Settlement Agreement resolves the disputed issues among the parties in connection with the litigation filed by Plum against SGOI, as described above. Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company will pay Campbell $5.0 million in cash and provide Campbell with rebates of up to $4.0 million over a four-year period in connection with Plum’s purchases of pouch products and Campbell’s purchases of aseptic broth products pursuant to manufacturing and supply agreements, as amended, between the parties and their affiliates. In order for Campbell to obtain the full $4.0 million in rebates, Plum and Campbell must order certain minimum quantities of pouch products and aseptic broth products within each of the designated twelve-month periods over the four-year rebate period. In connection with the Settlement Agreement, the Company recorded a charge of $9.0 million in the second quarter of 2016, as the Company believes there is reasonable assurance that the minimum order quantities will be achieved (see note 9).

Employment Matter

On April 19, 2013, a class-action complaint, in the case titled De Jesus, et al. v. Frozsun, Inc. d/b/a Frozsun Foods, was filed against Sunrise Growers, Inc. (then named Frozsun, Inc.) in California Superior Court, Santa Barbara County seeking damages, equitable relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees for alleged wage and hour violations. This case includes claims for failure to pay all hours worked, failure to pay overtime wages, meal and rest period violations, waiting-time penalties, improper wage statements and unfair business practices. The putative class includes approximately 4,000 to 4,500 non-exempt hourly employees from Sunrise’s production facilities in Santa Maria and Oxnard, California. The parties are currently engaged in pre-class certification discovery. The Company is unable to estimate any potential liabilities relating to this proceeding, and any such liabilities could be material.

Other Claims

In addition, various claims and potential claims arising in the normal course of business are pending against the Company. It is the opinion of management that these claims or potential claims are without merit and the amount of potential liability, if any, to the Company is not determinable. Management believes the final determination of these claims or potential claims will not materially affect the financial position or results of the Company.