Getting youngsters to understand where their food is from and how it is grown and, what's more, care about it, can be a tall order. But at Burnholme Community College in York that's exactly what they have been doing. Education reporter Haydn Lewis found out more.

students in Years 9 and 10 at Burnholme Community College have been immersing themselves in organic living.

Students were asked to eat as much organic produce as possible during the holidays in an efffort to experience the health and taste benefits first-hand.

They had already had some experience in the workings of an organic farm, following a visit to The Organic Pantry, Tadcaster, in July.

The project is part of an artwork competition set by Out Of This World, the co-operative that is opening York's first organic supermarket next month.

A group of students have been set the challenge to create an artwork montage, based on the statement "Local Organic Produce - benefiting our health, our community, and our planet", for the York store.

The winning piece of art will be unveiled at the store's opening ceremony and displayed within the shop for all to admire.

The Burnholme Year 9 students taking part are Tom Moss, Ryan Hodgson, Alex Palphreyman, Gage McGuigan, Kim Miles, and Chevaugne Fawdington. The Year 10 students are Emma Hardy, Andrea Potter, Emma Roberts, Rosie Smith, Hollie Gallagher, and Hannah Hutchinson.

Like other Year 9 students at the college, Ryan Hodgson and Tom Moss, both 13, have to do home economics as part of the curriculum.

Ryan said he had learned a lot about organic produce through the project. He said: "It's a lot more healthy when you eat vegetables grown on an organic farm because there's not the chemicals you might get on other mass-produced foods."

Tom said: "We have been on the internet looking at the different kinds of food and researched into what chemicals are used on a lot of fruits and vegetables."

Emma Hardy, 14, is doing home economics for GCSE. She said: "When I go to the supermarket now with my mum I look where the food has come from and what it's got in it. When we went to the farm we saw all the different types of veg growing there - cucumbers, lettuce and courgettes."

John Fletcher, the school's business links co-ordinator, said: "The students found seeing an organic farm and learning about the benefits of organic products most interesting.

"This visit and competition is something which the school is thrilled to be part of and we know it will produce some really inspiring, original and thought provoking artwork."

Andrea Potter and Rosie Smith, both 14, are in a three-strong team with Emma Hardy entering the competition.

Rosie said: "We have broken our design down into three categories - planet, community and health and have been trying to show how eating organic food has an impact on each one."

Jon Walker, of Out Of This World, said: "The Organic Pantry visit is something the students and ourselves enjoyed immensely.

"To experience organic farming this close really inspires and will give the students an insight into the basics of organic farming. We are well on schedule for the store opening and to unveil the winning artwork on the day of opening is something we look forward to with great anticipation."

Marianne Dickson, York store manager, said: "The children are enthusiastic about the competition, I'm sure we'll see some excellent creations from these talented students who have spent the summer thinking about organic produce in order to gain inspiration."

Burnholme Community College students arrived at The Organic Pantry in the school's new minibus, recently donated by the Coppergate Centre in York.

The Out Of This World store in George Hudson Street, York, and will be 4,000sq ft.

It will open its doors to the public on Saturday, October 21.