My thoughts as well. Perhaps I'm biased--I grow eggplant and the thought of "tenderizing" them is somewhat contradictory after the babying I do of the plants to get them to reward my efforts with their lovely purple (or white) fruits. I am always crushed in the fall when the eggplants yield to frost and give up. I've wondered if I could bring eggplant in before the first frost and have the plant continue producing into the winter months...
Not being a farmer (or gardener) I wouldn't know, but sometimes nature is going to do what nature is going to do.
Worst case is you try it and fail.