You are developing a Snowpark Python stored procedure that performs complex data transformations on a large dataset stored in a Snowflake table named 'RAW SALES'. The procedure needs to efficiently handle data skew and leverage Snowflake's distributed processing capabilities. You have the following code snippet:

Which of the following strategies would be MOST effective to optimize the performance of this Snowpark stored procedure, specifically addressing potential data skew in the 'product id' column, assuming 'product_id' is known to cause uneven data distribution across Snowflake's micro-partitions?
Correct Answer: E
Option E is the most effective solution. Salting breaks up data skew before repartitioning. Automatic clustering on the transformed table optimizes future queries. Repartitioning redistributes the data across Snowflake's processing nodes, and Automatic Clustering will help in maintaining performance as the data changes in TRANSFORMED_SALES table over time. Option A, without salting, may still be inefficient due to the initial skew. Option B improves query performance but doesn't address the initial transformation skew. Option C is incorrect because 'pandas' in Snowpark does not automatically handle data skew at the Snowflake level. Option D is a costly workaround that doesn't fundamentally solve the skew problem.