Early bird?

I have been travelling by road for the last one week.  Most of the time we set out early to beat the traffic to the next place.  Invariably it is still dark and being winter often misty too.  Nonetheless the most common people we see already up and about their work at that time of the day are the vegetable and fruit farmers and vendors. 

The farmers or the vendors are either transporting their produce or products to the market or are setting up the shop, for the sale.  And I wondered if the vegetables or fruits are not sold.  It is a double loss for them and their families:  They do not earn much and unless they themselves consume the fruits or vegetables, they are going to get spoilt.  From the mere observation of the lives of these poor people, they'd hardly afford fresh products for themselves.  Even if they have to eat it, rather than throw it away, they'd wait till the end, hopeful of some buyer purchasing them. 

The rest, those who sell imperishable goods, I suppose do not have such a tension.  They can conveniently pull down the shutter to their stores, hopeful for a better sale tomorrow - assured that their wares are not going to get spoilt by then. They can afford to open the shop anytime after 10 am.  

And we say, the early bird gets the worm!