From San Diego Unified School District Newsletter, 10/2024

Order up! San Diego Unified’s first student-designed and operated food truck is officially up and running. 

Sunset Bites made its debut appearance in its full capacity at the ‘Taste of San Diego Unified’ event last week, where students from five high school culinary programs prepared, cooked, and served up chicken tacos, sliders, and acai bowls from the student-run food truck. 

During the event, culinary students from Garfield, Hoover, Mira Mesa, Morse, and San Diego high schools also served dishes inspired by global cuisine from various food booths.

The customers? Hundreds of middle school students who not only got to try the delicious food but also got a first-hand look at the types of College, Career and Technical Education programs available to them when they reach high school. 

District central office staff were also able to try the culinary creations to give them a taste of what could be available at future district and school events. 

Later this year, the truck will be available for schools, departments, and outside bookings. Similar to a catering business, the truck will be offered for rental, with students at the center of all operations, from pricing to product.

Sunset Bites is a fully operational food truck, equipped with a commercial-grade kitchen, provided through a partnership with Intuit. The program allows students in multiple career pathways to develop the technical, financial, and entrepreneurial skills needed to run a business. 

The program highlights the district’s commitment to providing programs that spark students’ interests and prepare them for an array of college and career opportunities.