KUNA, Idaho — At Hudson Baking Co., every loaf, roll, and pastry has its own story, but now the story is about the man behind the baking and his community that is determined to lift him up.
Aaron Hudson, the owner of Hudson Baking Co., is facing an aggressive return of cancer, after beating it three years ago.
Less than two weeks ago, Aaron and his wife Anna found out that his cancer came back metastatic, having spread throughout his body, but their family is hoping for results like the first time he was diagnosed.
In 2020, Aaron started baking during COVID, which turned into an out-of-home business in which family and friends placed orders online that his wife would deliver to people.
Their small business continued to be successful as a side-project while Aaron and Anna kept their full-time jobs.
When it was apparent that more people in the community were interested in Aaron’s baked goods, he and his wife were invited to have a booth at local farmer’s markets and begin selling there.
After seeing the success at the farmer’s markets, Aaron and Anna were approached by Kuna’s Chamber of Commerce and encouraged to open an official bakery location in Kuna.
In August 2021 Aaron and Anna opened Hudson Baking Co. in Kuna, but it was just three months later in November that Aaron received his first cancer diagnosis.
Aaron continued to bake through his diagnosis and treatment, even in the hours up to his surgery.
"The first time around, actually in the morning he was supposed to go through surgery, he was at the bakery baking bread, Anna said. “I called him, and said, ‘Where are you? You have surgery in an hour,’ and he said, ‘I had to get these loaves out'," she said. “I think that's just a true testament to who he is as a person.”
After recovering from his diagnosis in 2021, his family business continued as a success.
Since Aaron has recently been diagnosed again, now with metastatic cancer, his family doesn’t know what to expect yet.
“I definitely think he's going to be baking the entire time through this, just, it's just his nature,” Anna said.
His family said they are still waiting for his initial doctor’s appointment following the new diagnosis.
The Hudson's are committed to keeping the bakery's doors open, hoping to continue serving the community that's become family to them.
“We have the best customers here in the Valley. I am convinced,” Aaron said. “I really appreciate our community. They've been just unbelievably positive. The support has been incredible, and so I feel confident that we'll be able to kind of put this thing to bed and be and move on.”