The author, Peter Askew, bought the domain name VidaliaOnions.com in 2014 for $2,200 and decided to start a business selling Vidalia onions online, despite having no experience in farming or the food industry. He partnered with a farmer and started small, but the business grew rapidly, with over 600 orders in the first season. The author attributes the success of the business to the unique domain name, which gave him an unfair advantage and helped drive new customers. The business has continued to grow, with the author focusing on customer service, marketing, and logistics.