Wanderer returns bearing small fruit (6)
I believe the answer is:
damson
'fruit' is the definition.
(damson is a kind of fruit)
'wanderer returns bearing small' is the wordplay.
'wanderer' becomes 'nomad' (nomad is a kind of wanderer).
'returns' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'bearing' indicates putting letters inside.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'nomad' backwards is 'damon'.
'damon' enclosing 's' is 'DAMSON'.
(Other definitions for damson that I've seen before include "Sort of plum" , "Small fruit for nomads" , "jam producer" , "Small dark-purple plum" , "Nomads (anag)" .)