Just curious . . . anyone buying Martha's hams this year?

You know - the Martha Stewart brand ham sold at Costco. It was definitely more expensive than the Kirkland brand at $3.99/lb but certainly not as prettily packaged (which is a "good thing," I guess).

I'm sort of intrigued by the celebrity packaging of "food" products. Is the appeal simply a matter of branding? Post-jail (or her "difficult time," as she puts it), Martha certainly has moved away from simply teaching and more into branding, I note. The only benefit I could see was that it was advertised as featuring humanely raised pig (something that appeals to me post-Omnivore's Dilemma and the curly-tailed pigs at Polyface Farm). Of course, that's an assumption on my part - I have no idea what humanely raised means to Martha.

Ham is traditional at Christmas in my family (as is pork again on New Year's Day - for good luck and prosperity's sake), but I find ham is a tough sell to any friends who I may celebrate with. Too much leftover as well. Therefore, if I'm making dinner, I won't be buying a ham.

So, I'd be curious if anyone here buys Martha's ham and if it is any better than anything else on the market. Please report back.

I actually may try that ham. I saw it yesterday at Costco and I need a ham. I'll be making a ham and a turkey this year, since my wife and I like a Christmas ham and, like you said, not everybody does - I'll also be making a turkey. They're both great for sandwiches and left-overs. If I grab one, I'll let you know how it is...