Factory regularly rations fruit (8)
I believe the answer is:
plantain
'fruit' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'factory regularly rations' is the wordplay.
'factory' becomes 'plant' (a manufacturing plant).
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
The alternate letters of 'rations' are 'ain'.
'plant'+'ain'='PLANTAIN'
(Other definitions for plantain that I've seen before include "Banana-like fruit" , "Low-growing plant; type of banana" , "Large banana - weed" , "Pal at inn (anag)" , "Tropical plant like a banana" .)