Commitments and contingencies	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Abstract
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Text Block	11. Commitments and contingencies (a) Vargas Class Action In September 2008, a single plaintiff and a former employee filed a wage and hour dispute against SunOpta Fruit Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as a class action alleging various violations of California's labour laws (the “Vargas Class Action”). A tentative settlement of all claims was reached at mediation on January 15, 2010, subject to final court approval, and the parties executed a settlement agreement resolving all claims of the class. As a result of the tentative settlement, the Company accrued a liability of $1,200 as at December 31, 2009. Final approval of the settlement was received from the court on May 20, 2011, and the final settlement amount was reduced to approximately $700. Included in other income (note 13) for the three quarters ended October 1, 2011 is $500 which represents the difference between the tentative and final settlement amounts. The Company paid the settlement in cash in July 2011. (b) Colorado Sun Oil Processors, LLC dispute Colorado Mills and SunOpta Grains and Foods Inc. (formally Sunrich LLC, herein “Grains and Foods”), a wholly–owned subsidiary of the Company, organized a joint venture in 2008 to construct and operate a vegetable oil refinery adjacent to Colorado Mills' sunflower seed crush plant located in Lamar, Colorado. During the relationship, disputes arose between the parties concerning management of the joint venture, record–keeping practices, certain unauthorized expenses incurred on behalf of the joint venture by Colorado Mills, procurement of crude oil by Sunrich from Colorado Mills for processing at the joint venture refinery, and the contract price of crude oil offered for sale under the joint venture agreement. The parties initiated a dispute resolution process as set forth in the joint venture agreement, which Colorado Mills aborted prematurely through the initiation of suit in Colorado State Court. Subsequent to the filing of that suit, Colorado Mills acted with an outside creditor of the joint venture to involuntarily place the joint venture into bankruptcy. The involuntary bankruptcy was opposed by Grains and Foods. After a preliminary hearing on Grains and Foods' motion to dismiss the involuntary bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court appointed a trustee to act on behalf of the joint venture. The court appointed trustee actively solicited bids to sell the assets of the joint venture. On February 3, 2011, Grains and Foods executed an Asset Purchase Agreement with the trustee to purchase certain of the assets of the joint venture and assume rights to an equipment lease. Colorado Mills also made an offer to purchase certain of the assets of the joint venture and assume rights to an equipment lease. The cash value of Colorado Mills' offer exceeded that of Grains and Foods. The bankruptcy court held an evidentiary hearing on June 30 through July 1, 2011 to determine which of the pending offers should proceed to a closing. During the hearing, Colorado Mills' lead investors improved the Colorado Mills offer by agreeing to guarantee the obligations owed under the equipment lease. After a two day hearing, the bankruptcy court approved the Colorado Mills offer. A closing occurred on the Colorado Mills offer on August 25, 2011. A separate arbitration proceeding is also pending between Grains and Foods and Colorado Mills to resolve direct claims each party has asserted against the other. The case was arbitrated during the week of August 8, 2011 and proposed findings were filed on September 13, 2011. No ruling on the case has yet been issued. Although management believes the claims asserted by Colorado Mills are baseless, management cannot conclude whether the prospect of an unfavourable outcome in this matter is probable, or estimate the loss, if any, that might arise from an unfavourable outcome. Accordingly, no accrual has been made at this time for this contingency. (c) 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.

Commitments and contingencies

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2011

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Abstract

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Text Block

11. Commitments and contingencies

(a) Vargas Class Action

In September 2008, a single plaintiff and a former employee filed a wage and hour dispute against SunOpta Fruit Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as a class action alleging various violations of California's labour laws (the “Vargas Class Action”). A tentative settlement of all claims was reached at mediation on January 15, 2010, subject to final court approval, and the parties executed a settlement agreement resolving all claims of the class. As a result of the tentative settlement, the Company accrued a liability of $1,200 as at December 31, 2009. Final approval of the settlement was received from the court on May 20, 2011, and the final settlement amount was reduced to approximately $700. Included in other income (note 13) for the three quarters ended October 1, 2011 is $500 which represents the difference between the tentative and final settlement amounts. The Company paid the settlement in cash in July 2011.

(b) Colorado Sun Oil Processors, LLC dispute

Colorado Mills and SunOpta Grains and Foods Inc. (formally Sunrich LLC, herein “Grains and Foods”), a wholly–owned subsidiary of the Company, organized a joint venture in 2008 to construct and operate a vegetable oil refinery adjacent to Colorado Mills' sunflower seed crush plant located in Lamar, Colorado. During the relationship, disputes arose between the parties concerning management of the joint venture, record–keeping practices, certain unauthorized expenses incurred on behalf of the joint venture by Colorado Mills, procurement of crude oil by Sunrich from Colorado Mills for processing at the joint venture refinery, and the contract price of crude oil offered for sale under the joint venture agreement.

The parties initiated a dispute resolution process as set forth in the joint venture agreement, which Colorado Mills aborted prematurely through the initiation of suit in Colorado State Court. Subsequent to the filing of that suit, Colorado Mills acted with an outside creditor of the joint venture to involuntarily place the joint venture into bankruptcy. The involuntary bankruptcy was opposed by Grains and Foods. After a preliminary hearing on Grains and Foods' motion to dismiss the involuntary bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court appointed a trustee to act on behalf of the joint venture. The court appointed trustee actively solicited bids to sell the assets of the joint venture. On February 3, 2011, Grains and Foods executed an Asset Purchase Agreement with the trustee to purchase certain of the assets of the joint venture and assume rights to an equipment lease. Colorado Mills also made an offer to purchase certain of the assets of the joint venture and assume rights to an equipment lease. The cash value of Colorado Mills' offer exceeded that of Grains and Foods. The bankruptcy court held an evidentiary hearing on June 30 through July 1, 2011 to determine which of the pending offers should proceed to a closing. During the hearing, Colorado Mills' lead investors improved the Colorado Mills offer by agreeing to guarantee the obligations owed under the equipment lease. After a two day hearing, the bankruptcy court approved the Colorado Mills offer. A closing occurred on the Colorado Mills offer on August 25, 2011. A separate arbitration proceeding is also pending between Grains and Foods and Colorado Mills to resolve direct claims each party has asserted against the other. The case was arbitrated during the week of August 8, 2011 and proposed findings were filed on September 13, 2011. No ruling on the case has yet been issued. Although management believes the claims asserted by Colorado Mills are baseless, management cannot conclude whether the prospect of an unfavourable outcome in this matter is probable, or estimate the loss, if any, that might arise from an unfavourable outcome. Accordingly, no accrual has been made at this time for this contingency.

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.