Wastewater from currant- and sultana-washing processes was successfully treated in an ethanol fermenter at 33 degrees C; the pH of the wash water was controlled at 2.8; the reducing sugar content was 38.8 g/litre; commercial baker's yeast was used as inoculum at a concentration of 2.5 g/litre; formaldehyde at a concentration of 150 mg/ litre was used as antiseptic; the ethanol yield was 70.6% of the theoretical value in 24 h; the COD removal after a single distillation was 84%. The overall economics of ethanol fermentation are very promising compared to methane fermentation.