Candidly, it’s only about half ripe (6)
I believe the answer is:
openly
'candidly' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'only about half ripe' is the wordplay.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'half' suggests halving the letters.
'ripe' halved is 'pe'.
'only' enclosing 'pe' is 'OPENLY'.
'it's' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for openly that I've seen before include "In public" , "In full view" , "Candidly, without concealment." , "Overtly" , "In candid, up-front manner" .)