Riding the Wave Together— Small Ripples, Real Change.
Gathering 2027
Monday, May 3rd to Thursday, May 6, 2027
San Diego, California
Complete an interest and scholarship need form, linked here. Interested in supporting the 2027 Gathering to make it more accessible for school food leaders? Review our opportunities to support here.
ScratchWorks Gatherings convene school food leaders committed to moving beyond ultra-processed foods and toward systems rooted in scratch cooking, regional supply chains, and student-centered nourishment. These gatherings are intentionally small, deeply practical, and built around peer learning—because the most meaningful progress in school food happens when we learn directly from one another.
In 2027, we’re heading west and focused on Riding the Wave Together- Small Ripples, Real Change.
San Diego offers a rare convergence of scale, longevity, and innovation. Home to the second-largest school district in California, San Diego Unified has been on a sustained journey toward scratch cooking for over ten years—building systems, training teams, and embedding food education into the broader learning environment. Surrounding the city are small- and medium-sized districts at every stage of the ScratchWorks continuum: from early exploration to mature, district-wide implementation.
This diversity makes San Diego an ideal learning laboratory.
We’re especially excited to introduce a new Gathering tradition: the inaugural Scratch Cooking Showcase. On Monday, May 3rd, ten school districts will demonstrate what’s possible at every stage of the Scratch Cooking Continuum, sharing real-world examples of how fresh ingredients, smart systems, and talented teams come together to create delicious, nourishing meals for students. We are now accepting proposals to showcase your own school district recipe. Please use this link to submit a recipe by October 16th, 2026.
Our field trips and working sessions will allow you to choose experiences that directly support your current goals—or stretch your thinking toward what’s possible next.
Content Proposals
We are now accepting content proposals from participants and aligned organizations that are focused on:
A. Policy: Use the link to submit policy-focused sessions. We encourage you to submit content in one of these four priority areas: (1) USDA Foods Reform, (2) State Agency Collaboration and Funding, (3) Universal School Meal Implementation, and (4) Countering the Hyper-Processed Narrative of School Food.
B. School Food Operations: Use the link to submit proposals focused on increasing scratch cooking in schools. We encourage you to submit content in one of these three priority areas: (1) Innovations & Efficiencies: Making Scratch Cooking Easier, (2) Scratch Cooking in Schools 101: Culinary Foundations, and (3) Reaching the Next Level: Advanced Scratch Cooking in Schools.
C. Scratch Cooking Showcase: Use the link to submit your own district recipe. We are only accepting submissions from school food operators that are in one of these three categories: (1) Unique Commodity-Focused Recipes, (2) Breakfast from Scratch, and (3) Stem-to-Bloom & Ingredient Maximization.
We are a collective that emphasizes peer-to-peer learning, so sessions submitted by participant operators will be prioritized. We encourage all submissions to be in partnership with operators. All proposals are due October 16th, 2026.
Location and Logistics
Ticket Pricing: $1,000. The price of the ticket includes a three-night hotel stay, conference content and sessions, field trips, and all meals except one dinner. Stay tuned for more information regarding available scholarships.
District Participation: Invitations are available to one person per school district.
Registration: Registration will open Fall 2026. Stay tuned!
Hotel: The Gathering will be taking place at Mission Bay Resort, where the cost of the ticket will include a hotel room for the length of the Gathering. We’ve chosen a family-friendly (including the furry ones) location.
Travel: San Diego International Airport (SAN) is newly remodeled and located right in the heart of the city, making travel easy whether you’re flying or driving. Please plan to arrive on Monday, May 3 by midday in time for our Scratch Cooking Showcase.
Tentative Itinerary (Subject to refinement as sites and speakers are confirmed):
Sunday, May 2
Arrival of Showcase Presenters
Optional Field Trips & Small Working Groups
Monday, May 3
5:30 pm – Scratch Cooking Showcase and Welcome Reception @ Mission Bay Resort
Tuesday, May 4
Panels & Plenary Sessions
Dinner on Your Own
Wednesday, May 5
Field Trips
Farm-to-Table Dinner
Thursday, May 6
Panels & Plenary Sessions
Keynote &Closing
Why Budget for ScratchWorks Gathering 2027?
This Gathering is designed for leaders who are:
- Responsible for long-term program strategy and investment
- Navigating labor, infrastructure, and procurement challenges
- Seeking proven models—not just inspiration
- Committed to incremental, durable change in school food systems
By the time you leave San Diego, you’ll have tangible examples, peer connections, and renewed clarity to support your district’s next steps.
More details—including registration timelines and pricing—will be released as plans are finalized.
If you are interested in joining the Gathering, join ScratchWorks and become eligible to attend by clicking here.
Take a look back at our 2025 Gathering
May 5–8, 2025 | Minneapolis (MPLS) MN
See our Gathering Agenda & Speakers Here.