Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 3,457,000	$ 1,251,000
Accounts receivable	152,406,000	157,369,000
Inventories	381,979,000	368,482,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	31,193,000	19,794,000
Current income taxes recoverable	2,815,000	2,801,000
Assets, Current, Total	571,850,000	549,697,000
Property, Plant and Equipment	164,131,000	162,239,000
Goodwill	224,161,000	223,611,000
Intangible Assets	178,030,000	183,524,000
Deferred income taxes	3,060,000	1,045,000
Other assets	8,563,000	9,442,000
Assets, Total	1,149,795,000	1,129,558,000
Current liabilities
Bank indebtedness	237,107,000	201,494,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	182,841,000	173,745,000
Customer and other deposits	1,155,000	2,543,000
Income taxes payable	876,000	5,661,000
Other current liabilities	433,000	1,016,000
Current portion of long-term debt	2,062,000	2,079,000
Current portion of long-term liabilities	6,300,000	5,500,000
Liabilities, Current, Total	430,774,000	392,038,000
Long-term debt	228,514,000	229,008,000
Long-term liabilities	10,374,000	15,354,000
Deferred income taxes	36,751,000	44,561,000
Liabilities, Total	706,413,000	680,961,000
Preferred shares of a subsidiary company held for sale	79,678,000	79,184,000
Sunopta Inc Shareholders Equity [Abstract]
Common Stock, Value, Outstanding	306,827,000	300,426,000
Additional paid in capital	24,726,000	25,522,000
Retained earnings	38,138,000	53,838,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(9,527,000)	(13,104,000)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total	360,164,000	366,682,000
Non-controlling interest	3,540,000	2,731,000
Total Equity	363,704,000	369,413,000
Liabilities and Equity, Total	$ 1,149,795,000	$ 1,129,558,000