RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES (Restructuring Reserve) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
GNP
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	$ 2,251
Restructuring charges	785
Payments and disposals	(2,644)
Ending liability or reserve	392
GNP \| Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	800
Restructuring charges	936
Payments and disposals	(1,437)
Ending liability or reserve	299
GNP \| Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	699
Restructuring charges	(227)
Payments and disposals	(472)
Ending liability or reserve	0
GNP \| Other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	752
Restructuring charges	76
Payments and disposals	(735)
Ending liability or reserve	93
40 North Foods
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	0
Restructuring charges	588
Payments and disposals	(469)
Ending liability or reserve	119
40 North Foods \| Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	0
Restructuring charges	449
Payments and disposals	(443)
Ending liability or reserve	6
40 North Foods \| Other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	0
Restructuring charges	139
Payments and disposals	(26)
Ending liability or reserve	$ 113

Payments For Restructuring And Disposals

No definition available.

Name:	ppc_PaymentsForRestructuringAndDisposals
Namespace Prefix:	ppc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after cash payment, of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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