Order, for the chap, fruit (7)
I believe the answer is:
mandate
'order' is the definition.
(I know that mandate is a more specific form of the action order)
'chap fruit' is the wordplay.
'chap' becomes 'man' (chap can mean a man).
'fruit' becomes 'date' (date is a kind of fruit).
'man'+'date'='MANDATE'
'for the' is the link.
(Other definitions for mandate that I've seen before include "Written authority" , "Authorisation to a politician" , "Authorization, official instruction" , "Authority given to perform certain task" , "Authority conferred on a tandem" .)