Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Oct. 01, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Seneca Foods Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000088948
Trading Symbol	senea
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Public Float			$ 217,512
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		7,605,049
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		1,874,861