FORTUNE -- Good economic news has been hard to come by lately, but not all is doom and gloom in America these days. The end of summer ushered in a few signs of progress in some of the unlikeliest corners of the economy. They are no guarantee that the good times are around the corner, but they do provide a helpful reminder that this slow recovery is exactly that: a recovery.

Fortune highlights four bright spots, and assesses what kind of a lasting impact they might have on the economy.

Farming a recovery

Of all the industries impacted by the recession, U.S. agriculture remains relatively resilient as prices soar for everything from meats to grains, mostly on demand from markets overseas.

American farmers will export $107.5 billion in agricultural products this...