While many shoppers are taking a fresh look at the labels of the products they buy, to avoid American imports, so are restaurant and coffee shop owners.

Bean Scene Coffee Works has three Kelowna locations which means an extensive shopping list to review.

“And right now we’re going through the process of finding all of the American stuff that we can,” said owner Allan Lang.

While much of that list is local and Canadian, there are American items.

“There are, but not many,” he said.

“We make it a mandate here to shop as local and as Canadian as possible as a matter of business anyway.”

Still, some things can’t always be sourced in Canada.

“Weather dictates what we can and can’t grow,” said Lang.

“So we are picking up produce, fruits and vegetables from other countries including the states, Mexico, and other countries around the world.”

And with retaliatory tariffs on American imports, hospitality companies like the Bean Scene will have work to do to avoid them even if purchasing items from other countries.

“We’re just not sure where the through port is on that, because some of this stuff does go through the states,” explained Lang.

“Are we being hit with a tariff on something that travels through the United States? We don’t know that yet.”

But that concern is secondary to Lang’s concern about how a trade war will impact all of us.

“My biggest worry is money in Canadian pockets,” he said. “With the American tariffs on Canadian goods that means we’re not exporting as much which means Canadian businesses aren’t making that gives them the disposable income to eat out.”

And that might mean fewer visits, to the Bean Scene.

That’s why, the company has been reaching out through social media channels to help people make more cost-effective choices when they do stop in.

“Instead of buying a $9 latte with oat milk and lots of different syrups, and upcharge, upcharge, upcharge,” said Lang, “get yourself a nice beautiful Americano, put some cream and sugar in it on the condiment stand. That’s going to save you a few bucks every day.”

Our conversation with Lang took place just before noon Monday and things are changing quickly.

The US tariffs were then paused for 30 days after Canada agreed to boost border security efforts.