What is the purpose of fruits? How do they accomplish that task

A fruit is a seed-containing mature ovary, often with fleshy tissues that develop from the ovary wall. The function of a fruit is to protect and disperse seeds. Dispersal increases reproductive success by minimizing competition for resources among parent and offspring. Just as flower structure is adapted to certain pollination vectors, so is fruit structure adapted to certain dispersal vectors.

Fleshy fruits are eaten by animals. The seeds pass through the digestive tract and are deposited wherever the animal defecates. Other fruits have hooks on their surfaces that help them "hitch a ride" on animals and are dispersed that way. Wind is another dispersal agent for fruits of maples, thistles, dandelions, etc. Water can also be a dispersing agent for buoyant fruits like that of a coconut.