Segment Information - Sales by Product Category, by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	$ 707,499	$ 564,721	$ 534,337
Less sales incentives	(16,048)	(13,602)	(11,808)
Net sales	691,451	551,119	522,529
Avocados [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	407,678	318,556	376,980
Tomatoes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	22,623	11,404	23,903
Papayas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	13,077	12,753	13,245
Pineapples [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	5,739	6,840	4,278
Other fresh products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	601	1,788	3,276
Food Service [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	43,616	36,289	37,431
Retail and club [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	214,165	177,091	75,224
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	449,718	351,341	421,682
Less sales incentives	(1,349)	(759)	(1,024)
Net sales	448,369	350,582	420,658
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Avocados [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	407,678	318,556	376,980
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Tomatoes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	22,623	11,404	23,903
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Papayas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	13,077	12,753	13,245
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Pineapples [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	5,739	6,840	4,278
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Other fresh products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	601	1,788	3,276
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Food Service [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fresh Products [Member] \| Retail and club [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	62,405	56,047	54,635
Less sales incentives	(10,791)	(9,623)	(9,484)
Net sales	51,614	46,424	45,151
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Avocados [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Tomatoes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Papayas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Pineapples [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Other fresh products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Food Service [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	43,616	36,289	37,431
Operating Segments [Member] \| Calavo Foods [Member] \| Retail and club [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	18,789	19,758	17,204
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	195,376	157,333	58,020
Less sales incentives	(3,908)	(3,220)	(1,300)
Net sales	191,468	154,113	56,720
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Avocados [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Tomatoes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Papayas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Pineapples [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Other fresh products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Food Service [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales
Operating Segments [Member] \| RFG [Member] \| Retail and club [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total gross sales	$ 195,376	$ 157,333	$ 58,020