Wanderer returned bearing small fruit (6)
I believe the answer is:
damson
'fruit' is the definition.
(I know that damson is a type of plum)
'wanderer returned bearing small' is the wordplay.
'wanderer' becomes 'nomad' (nomad is a kind of wanderer).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'bearing' indicates putting letters inside.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'nomad' written backwards gives 'damon'.
'damon' enclosing 's' is 'DAMSON'.
(Other definitions for damson that I've seen before include "Small stone-fruit for nomads" , "Type of plum" , "fruit tree" , "Small tart plum" , "jam producer" .)